Tenomodulin is necessary for tenocyte proliferation and tendon maturation

Mol Cell Biol. 2005 Jan;25(2):699-705. doi: 10.1128/MCB.25.2.699-705.2005.

Abstract

Tenomodulin (Tnmd) is a member of a new family of type II transmembrane glycoproteins. It is predominantly expressed in tendons, ligaments, and eyes, whereas the only other family member, chondromodulin I (ChM-I), is highly expressed in cartilage and at lower levels in the eye and thymus. The C-terminal extracellular domains of both proteins were shown to modulate endothelial-cell proliferation and tube formation in vitro and in vivo. We analyzed Tnmd function in vivo and provide evidence that Tnmd is processed in vivo and that the proteolytically cleaved C-terminal domain can be found in tendon extracts. Loss of Tnmd expression in gene targeted mice abated tenocyte proliferation and led to a reduced tenocyte density. The deposited amounts of extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen types I, II, III, and VI and decorin, lumican, aggrecan, and matrilin-2, were not affected, but the calibers of collagen fibrils varied significantly and exhibited increased maximal diameters. Tnmd-deficient mice did not have changes in tendon vessel density, and mice lacking both Tnmd and ChM-I had normal retinal vascularization and neovascularization after oxygen-induced retinopathy. These results suggest that Tnmd is a regulator of tenocyte proliferation and is involved in collagen fibril maturation but do not confirm an in vivo involvement of Tnmd in angiogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Collagen / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix / chemistry
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Targeting
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mucins / metabolism
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retinal Neovascularization
  • Sialomucins
  • Tendons / cytology*
  • Tendons / physiology*

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Mucins
  • Sialomucins
  • Tnmd protein, mouse
  • Collagen