Bi-directional modulation of cellular interactions in an in vitro co-culture model of tendon-to-bone interface

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

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.

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.