Identification of a tendon phenotype in GDF6 deficient mice.
Increasing evidence suggests that the growth/differentiation factors, GDFs 5, 6, and 7 in particular, may play a role in tendon and ligament biology. Mice with genetic mutations in Gdf5 have altered tendon composition and mechanical behavior, whereas animals with functional null mutations in Gdf7 have a more subtle tendon phenotype. The present study demonstrates for the first time that a null mutation in Gdf6 is associated with substantially lower levels of tail tendon collagen content (-33%) in 4-week-old male mice, which has direct functional consequences for the mechanical integrity of the tissue (45-50% reduction in material properties). These data support a role for GDF6 in tendon matrix modeling.
Mikic
Borjana
B
Picker Engineering Program, Smith College, 51 College Lane, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, USA. bmikic@email.smith.edu
Rossmeier
Kerri
K
Bierwert
Louann
L
D000818:Animals; D055431:Growth Differentiation Factor 6 / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010641:Phenotype; D013710:Tendons / Q000502:physiology*
C525907:Gdf6 protein, mouse; D055431:Growth Differentiation Factor 6