Tumor necrosis factor-α and transforming growth factor-β1 facilitate differentiation and proliferation of tendon-derived stem cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) on the proliferation and differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSC).


RESULTS
TNF-α inhibits the proliferation and tenogenic/osteogenic differentiation of TDSC but, after simultaneous or sequential treatment with TGF-β1 and TNF-α, the expression of tenogenic/osteogenic-related marker and proliferation of TDSC was significantly increased. During these processes, Smad2/3 and Smad1/5/8 were highly phosphorylated, meaning that the TGF-β and BMP signaling pathways were highly activated. Further study revealed that the expression of Inhibitor-Smad appeared to be negatively correlated to the proliferation and differentiation of TDSC.


CONCLUSIONS
Combining the use of TNF-α and TGF-β1 could improve the proliferation and differentiation of TDSC in vitro, and the expression of I-Smad is negatively correlated with TDSC proliferation and differentiation.
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Peilin
P
Han
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Qingbo
Q
Cui
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Shulong
S
Yang
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Hao
H
Wang
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China.
Peng
P
Gao
Pediatric Surgery Department, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. zhaozhu247@163.com.
Zhaozhu
Z
Li
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051897:Smad Proteins, Inhibitory; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D051897:Smad Proteins, Inhibitory; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Differentiation; Drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic; Proliferation; Tendon-derived stem cells; Transforming growth factor-β1; Tumor necrosis factor-α