Injury induces a change in the functional characteristics of cells recovered from equine tendon.
Injury initiates a repair process characterized by influx of fibroblasts and the rapid formation of fibrous scar tissue and subsequent tissue contraction. The response to injury and behavior of the different tendon fibroblast populations, however, has been poorly characterized. We hypothesized that the fibroblasts recovered from tendon with acute injury would exhibit different cell properties relating to adhesion, migration and tensegrity. To test this hypothesis we evaluated the ability of fibroblasts recovered from normal and injured equine superficial digital flexor tendons (SDFTs). The injured tendon-derived cells showed greater contraction of the collagen gel but poorer adhesion to pepsin-digested collagen, and migration over extracellular matrix proteins compared to normal SDFT-derived fibroblasts. Thus, the cells present within the tendon after injury display different behavior related to wound healing.
Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan.
Rina
R
Kihara
Clinical Science and Pathobiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 320-0856, Japan ; Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Herts, AL9 7TA, U.K.
Yoshinori
Y
Kasashima
Department of Tissue Physiology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan.
Katsuhiko
K
Arai
Division of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University, Tokyo 112-8610, Japan.
Yasunori
Y
Miyamoto
fibroblast; injury; tendon