TSG-6 mediates the effect of tendon derived stem cells for rotator cuff healing

B. Cheng, H. Ge, J. Zhou, Q. Zhang

Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. zqywyx@163.com

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• Orthopedics

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow stem cells (MSCs) were able to reduce fibrovascular tissues formation via TNF alpha-stimulated gene/protein 6 (6TSG-6) in various animal models. At the same time, tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) were able to promote rotator cuff healing; however, the mechanism is still unknown.

AIM: To investigate the role of TSG-6 in the treatment of rotator cuff healing with TDSCs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: 45 rats underwent unilateral detachment and repair of the supraspinatus tendon. 15 animals received TDSCs in a fibrin glue carrier(Group A), 15 received TSG-6 silenced TDSCs (Group B), and 15 received fibrin glue for control (Group C). Animals were sacrificed at 4 weeks and evaluated for the biomechanical testing. Statistical analysis was performed with an independent t test with significance set at p = 0.05.

RESULTS: The ultimate stress was greater in the TDSCs group (4.91±1.41 N/mm2) as compared with the Control group (2.99±1.04 N/mm2) (p < 0.05). However, when silent the expression of TSG-6, the TSG-6 silenced group (3.36±0.96 N/mm2) showed no benefit over the control group (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS: TSG-6 mediates the function of TDSCs to improve the structure and the attachment strength of the healing tendon-bone interface.

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