Age-related changes of tendon fibril micro-morphology and gene expression.

Age-related changes of tendon fibril micro-morphology and gene expression.
J Anat. 2019 Dec 03;:
Authors: Ribitsch I, Gueltekin S, Keith MF, Minichmair K, Peham C, Jenner F, Egerbacher M
Abstract
Aging is hypothesized to be associated with changes in tendon matrix composition which may lead to alteration of tendon material properties and hence propensity to injury. Altered gene expression may offer insights into disease pathophysiology and thus open new perspectives toward designing pathophysiology-driven therapeutics. Therefore, the current study aimed at identifying naturally occurring differences in tendon micro-morphology and gene expression of newborn, young and old horses. Age-related differences in the distribution pattern of tendon fibril thickness and in the expression of the tendon relevant genes collagen type 1 (Col1), Col3, Col5, tenascin-C, decorin, tenomodulin, versican, scleraxis and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein were investigated. A qualitative and quantitative gene expression and collagen fibril diameter analysis was performed for the most frequently injured equine tendon, the superficial digital flexor tendon, in comparison with the deep digital flexor tendon. Most analyzed genes (Col1, Col3, Col5, tenascin-C, tenomodulin, scleraxis) were expressed at a higher level in foals (age ≤ 6 months) than in horses of 2.75 years (age at which flexor tendons become mature in structure) and older, decorin expressio...

Source: Journal of Anatomy - December 2, 2019 Category: Anatomy Authors: Ribitsch I, Gueltekin S, Keith MF, Minichmair K, Peham C, Jenner F, Egerbacher M Tags: J Anat Source Type: research