Abstract
We have established that human tenocytes can differentiate in the absence of exogenous fetal bovine serum (FBS) but in the presence of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and transforming growth factor-β3 (TGF-β3). The extent of tenocyte differentiation was assessed by examining cell survival, collagen synthesis, cell morphology and expression of tenocyte differentiation markers such as scleraxis (Scx), tenomodulin (Tnmd), collagen type I (Col-I) and decorin (Dcn). Our results indicate that 50 ng/ml IGF-1 and 10 ng/ml TGF-β3 (in the absence of FBS) were capable of maintaining in vitro human tenocyte survival in 14-day cultures. The extent of collagen synthesis and messenger ribonucleic acid expression of Scx, Tnmd, Col-I and Dcn were significantly upregulated in response to IGF-1 and TGF-β3. These findings have shown for the first time that human tenocytes can be maintained in long-term culture, in serum-free conditions, making this approach a suitable one for the purpose of tendon tissue engineering.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 27-36 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Cells Tissues Organs |
Volume | 197 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Differentiation
- Growth factors
- Tendon
- Tissue engineering
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Histology