Crucial transcription factors in tendon development and differentiation: their potential for tendon regeneration.
Tendons that connect muscles to bone are often the targets of sports injuries. The currently unsatisfactory state of tendon repair is largely attributable to the limited understanding of basic tendon biology. A number of tendon lineage-related transcription factors have recently been uncovered and provide clues for the better understanding of tendon development. Scleraxis and Mohawk have been identified as critical transcription factors in tendon development and differentiation. Other transcription factors, such as Sox9 and Egr1/2, have also been recently reported to be involved in tendon development. However, the molecular mechanisms and application of these transcription factors remain largely unclear and this prohibits their use in tendon therapy. Here, we systematically review and analyze recent findings and our own data concerning tendon transcription factors and tendon regeneration. Based on these findings, we provide interaction and temporal programming maps of transcription factors, as a basis for future tendon therapy. Finally, we discuss future directions for tendon regeneration with differentiation and trans-differentiation approaches based on transcription factors.
Center for Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Huanhuan
H
Liu
Shouan
S
Zhu
Can
C
Zhang
Ping
P
Lu
Jiajie
J
Hu
Zi
Z
Yin
Yue
Y
Ma
Xiao
X
Chen
Hongwei
H
OuYang
D000818:Animals; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2 / Q000235:genetics; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D013710:Tendons / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; D051767:Early Growth Response Protein 2; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; C497327:Egr2 protein, mouse; C503815:Scx protein, mouse; C527933:Sox9 protein, mouse; C510657:mohawk protein, mouse