title: The Mechanical, Structural, and Compositional Changes of Tendon Exposed to Elastase.
abstract: The mechanical response of tendon is dependent on the interaction of structural molecules that constitute the extracellular matrix. However, little is known about the role of elastic fibers that are present in this structure. Elastase treatments have been used to elucidate the mechanical role of elastic fibers in numerous tissues. Here, we show that a standard elastase treatment affects the mechanical properties of tendon, including the ultimate tensile strength and failure strain. Moreover, elastase-treated specimens exhibit significant structural and compositional changes including crimp undulation and release of glycosaminoglycans. These data demonstrate that a common elastase treatment has a complex digestion profile that influences the structure-function relationship of tendon. Thus, defining the mechanical role of elastic fibers in tendon using this technique is challenging. This introduces new and exciting questions regarding the function of elastic fibers in tendon, which may not be as well understood as previously thought.
authors: Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. tylermgrant@gmail.com.|Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK. tylermgrant@gmail.com.
authors: Tyler M
authors: TM
authors: Grant
authors: Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors: Clarence
authors: C
authors: Yapp
authors: Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors: Qi
authors: Q
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
authors: Jan T
authors: JT
authors: Czernuszka
authors: Department of Engineering Science, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.|Botnar Research Centre, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Windmill Road, Oxford, OX3 7HE, UK.
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000737:chemistry*; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013710:Tendons / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D010196:Pancreatic Elastase
keywords: Elastase; Elastic fibers; Elastin; Structure–function; Tendon; Tissue mechanics