title: MGF enhances tenocyte invasion through MMP-2 activity via the FAK-ERK1/2 pathway.
abstract: Tendon regeneration and healing requires tenocytes to move to the repair site followed by proliferation and synthesis of the extracellular matrix. A novel synthetic growth factor, mechano-growth factor (MGF), has been discovered to have positive roles in tissue repair through the improvement of cell proliferation and migration and the protection of cells against injury-induced apoptosis. However, it remains unclear whether MGF has the potential to accelerate tendon repair. In this study, using a transwell system, we found that MGF-C25E (a synthetic mechano-growth factor E peptide) significantly promotes tenocyte invasion, which was accompanied by the increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) as well as the increased activity of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2). The MMP-2 inhibitor OA-Hy blocked MGF-C25E-promoted tenocyte invasion. Inhibitors of FAK or ERK1/2 blocked MGF-C25E-promoted tenocyte invasion and MMP-2 activity as well. These results indicate that MGF-C25E promotes tenocyte invasion by increasing MMP-2 activity via the FAK-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide the first evidence that MGF-C25E enhances tenocyte invasion and indicate that it may serve as a potential repair material for promoting the healing and regeneration of injured tendons.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bingyu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinghui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Baiyao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ju
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Guanbin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012038:Regeneration; D014945:Wound Healing
chemical_list: C519382:mechano-growth factor, rat; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D051417:Focal Adhesion Kinase 1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: Extracellular signal regulated kinase1/2; Focal adhesion kinase; Invasion; Matrix metalloproteinases-2; Mechano-growth factor