Role of Scx+/Sox9+ cells as potential progenitor cells for postnatal supraspinatus enthesis formation and healing after injury in mice

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 1;15(12):e0242286. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242286. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

A multipotent cell population co-expressing a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor scleraxis (Scx) and SRY-box 9 (Sox9) has been shown to contribute to the establishment of entheses (tendon attachment sites) during mouse embryonic development. The present study aimed to investigate the involvement of Scx+/Sox9+ cells in the postnatal formation of fibrocartilaginous entheses and in the healing process after injury, using ScxGFP transgenic mice. We demonstrate that Scx+/Sox9+ cells are localized in layers at the insertion site during the postnatal formation of fibrocartilaginous entheses of supraspinatus tendon until postnatal 3 weeks. Further, these cells were rarely seen at postnatal 6 weeks, when mature fibrocartilaginous entheses were formed. Furthermore, we investigated the involvement of Scx+/Sox9+ cells in the healing process after supraspinatus tendon enthesis injury, comparing the responses of 20- and 3-week-old mice. In the healing process of 20-week-old mice with disorganized fibrovascular tissue in response to injury, a small number of Scx+/Sox9+ cells transiently appeared from 1 week after injury, but they were rarely seen at 4 weeks after injury. Meanwhile, in 3-week-old mice, a thin layer of fibrocartilaginous tissue with calcification was formed at healing enthesis at 4 weeks after injury. From 1 to 2 weeks after injury, more Scx+/Sox9+ cells, widely distributed at the injured site, were seen compared with the 20-week-old mice. At 4 weeks after injury, these cells were located near the surface of the recreated fibrocartilaginous layer. This spatiotemporal localization pattern of Scx+/Sox9+ cells at the injured enthesis in our 3-week-old mouse model was similar to that in postnatal fibrocartilaginous enthesis formation. These findings indicate that Scx+/Sox9+ cells may have a role as entheseal progenitor-like cells during postnatal maturation of fibrocartilaginous entheses and healing after injury in a manner similar to that seen in embryonic development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibrocartilage / growth & development
  • Fibrocartilage / injuries
  • Fibrocartilage / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Musculoskeletal System / pathology
  • Postnatal Care
  • Rotator Cuff / growth & development
  • Rotator Cuff / pathology
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor / genetics*
  • Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Tendon Injuries / genetics
  • Tendon Injuries / pathology
  • Tendon Injuries / therapy*
  • Tendons / growth & development
  • Tendons / metabolism
  • Tendons / pathology
  • Wound Healing / genetics*

Substances

  • Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
  • SOX9 Transcription Factor
  • Scx protein, mouse
  • Sox9 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This research was funded by grants from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI, Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists awarded to authors TT and CS. TT: 16K20062, 18K16628 CS:18H02966 https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/ The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.