Bi-directional modulation of cellular interactions in an in vitro co-culture model of tendon-to-bone interface.
Cell Prolif 2018;
51:e12493. [PMID:
30105786 PMCID:
PMC6528866 DOI:
10.1111/cpr.12493]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This work aimed at studying in vitro interactions between human tendon-derived cells (hTDCs) and pre-osteoblasts (pre-OBs) that may trigger a cascade of events involved in enthesis regeneration.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The effect of 5 osteogenic medium (OM) conditions over the modulation of hTDCs and pre-OBs towards the tenogenic and osteogenic phenotypes, respectively, was studied. Three different medium conditions were chosen for subsequently establishing a direct co-culture system in order to study the expression of bone, tendon and interface-related markers.
RESULTS
A higher matrix mineralization and ALP activity was observed in co-cultures in the presence of OM. Higher transcription levels of bone- (ALPL, RUNX2, SPP1) and interface-related genes (ACAN, COMP) were found in co-cultures. The expression of aggrecan was influenced by the presence of OM and cell-cell interactions occurring in co-culture.
CONCLUSIONS
The present work assessed both the influence of OM on cell phenotype modulation and the importance of co-culture models while promoting cell-cell interactions and the exchange of soluble factors in triggering an interface-like phenotype to potentially modulate enthesis regeneration.
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