Effect of aging on the tendon structure and tendon‑associated gene expression in mouse foot flexor tendon

Sugiyama,Yoichi; Naito,Kiyohito; Goto,Kenji; Kojima,Yuko; Furuhata,Atsushi; Igarashi,Mamoru; Nagaoka,Isao; Kaneko,Kazuo

doi:10.3892/br.2019.1200

Effect of aging on the tendon structure and tendon‑associated gene expression in mouse foot flexor tendon

Authors:
- Yoichi Sugiyama
- Kiyohito Naito
- Kenji Goto
- Yuko Kojima
- Atsushi Furuhata
- Mamoru Igarashi
- Isao Nagaoka
- Kazuo Kaneko
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Affiliations: Department of Medicine for Motor Organs, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113‑8421, Japan, Laboratory of Morphology and Image Analysis, Research Support Center, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113‑8421, Japan, Department of Host Defense and Biochemical Research, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo 113‑8421, Japan
Published online on: March 13, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2019.1200
Pages: 238-244

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Abstract

To evaluate the biological changes in tendons during the aging process, the present study examined the effect of aging on the tendon structure, distribution of collagen types I and III, and expression of tendon‑associated genes, using flexor tendons in a mouse model. Histological assessment of the tendon structure and distribution of collagen types I and III were performed, and the expression of tendon‑associated genes was evaluated in flexor digitorium longus tendons of young (8 weeks) and aged (78 weeks) female C57BL/6 mice. The results indicated that the Soslowsky score, based on the analysis of cellularity, fibroblastic changes, and collagen fiber orientation and disruption, was significantly increased, or worsened, in the tendons of the aged group compared with those in the young group. Furthermore, in the aged group, the distribution of type I collagen was decreased and the distribution of type III collagen was relatively increased compared with the young group. Finally, the mRNA expression levels of collagen (type I and type III) and tenogenic markers (Mohawk homeobox, tenomodulin and scleraxis BHLH transcription factor) were significantly decreased in the aged group compared with the young group. The present observations demonstrated that the structure of the tendons, distribution of types I and III collagen and the expression of tendon‑associated genes were modulated by aging in the flexor tendon, and that these changes may contribute to the degeneration of tendons in tendinopathy.

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