title: The utilization of decellularized tendon slices to provide an inductive microenvironment for the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of stem cells.
abstract: The extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment for the stem cell niches, including but not limited to the biochemical composition, matrix topography, and stiffness, is crucial to stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The purpose of this study was to explore the capacity of the decellularized tendon slices (DTSs) to induce stem cell proliferation and tenogenic differentiation. Rat adult stem cells, including tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) and bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs), were identified to have universal stem cell characteristics. The DTSs were found to retain the native tendon ECM microenvironment cues, including the inherent surface topography, well-preserved tendon ECM biochemical composition and similar stiffness to native tendon. When the TDSCs and BMSCs were cultured on the DTSs respectively, the LIVE/DEAD assay, alamarBlue® assay, scanning electron microscopy examination and qRT-PCR analysis demonstrated that the DTSs have the capacity to support these stem cells homogeneous distribution, alignment, significant proliferation and tenogenic differentiation. Taken together, the findings of this study indicate that the DTSs can provide a naturally inductive microenvironment for the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of TDSCs and BMSCs, supporting the use of decellularized tendon ECM as a promising and valuable approach for tendon repair/reconstruction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liang-Ju
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Ning
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Jing
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qing
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Jie-Liang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Cong
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China. Electronic address: tingwuqin@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ting-Wu
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010012:Osteogenesis; D010078:Oxazines / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010078:Oxazines; D014966:Xanthenes; C005843:resazurin
keywords: Bone marrow-derived stem cells; Decellularized tendon slices; Differentiation; Microenvironment; Proliferation; Tendon-derived stem cells