Project description:Achilles tendinopathy is often thought to be a consequence of overuse of the Cells within the Achilles tendon of healthy rats undergo a series of changes following physiologic levels of mechanical stimulation after running, and we further explored the transcriptome changes in Achilles tendon cells during post-exercise recovery. Our current experiment reveals RNA-seq analysis of the transcriptome of the rat Achilles tendon after 12 hours of rest following running.
Project description:Translational research is commonly performed in the C57B6/J mouse strain, chosen for its genetic homogeneity and phenotypic uniformity. Here, we evaluate the suitability of the white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) as a model organism for aging research, offering a comparative analysis against C57B6/J and diversity outbred (DO) Mus musculus strains. Our study includes comparisons of body composition, skeletal muscle function, and cardiovascular parameters, shedding light on potential applications and limitations of P. leucopus in aging studies. Notably, P. leucopus exhibits distinct body composition characteristics, emphasizing reduced muscle force exertion and a unique metabolism, particularly in fat mass. Cardiovascular assessments showed changes in arterial stiffness, challenging conventional assumptions and highlighting the need for a nuanced interpretation of aging-related phenotypes. Our study also highlights inherent challenges associated with maintaining and phenotyping P. leucopus cohorts. Behavioral considerations, including anxiety-induced responses during handling and phenotyping assessment, pose obstacles in acquiring meaningful data. Moreover, the unique anatomy of P. leucopus necessitates careful adaptation of protocols designed for Mus musculus. While showcasing potential benefits, further extensive analyses across broader age ranges and larger cohorts are necessary to establish the reliability of P. leucopus as a robust and translatable model for aging studies.
Project description:The Achilles tendon is the thickest tendon in the human body, and Achilles tendinopathy is its most prevalent disorder, often considered a consequence of overuse. While disruption to the collagen fibers represents a significant manifestation of Achilles tendinopathy, strikingly little is known about the mechanisms by which healthy tendon accumulates damage in vivo.As existing studies of tendon biomechanics and mechanobiology predominantly relied on in vitro or ex vivo experiments on isolated tissues, it is still largely unknown whether and how disruptions occur to the collagen molecules in healthy Achilles tendons following physiological activities. We reported the first RNA-seq analysis reflecting transcriptome changes in healthy rat Achilles tendons following running, providing a resource for future investigations in tendon mechanobiology and sports medicine.
Project description:Peripheral afferent neurons terminate at the surfaces of tendons, yet their role after injury beyond nociceptive functions remain unclear. Using transgenic animal models, sensory neurons were found to sprout after Achilles tendon injury in domains of Nerve growth factor (NGF) expression. Conditional deletion of Ngf in either myeloid or mesenchymal cell types led to tendon repair defects – findings phenocopied by inactivation of TrkA (Tropomyosin receptor kinase A) using a knockin mouse model. We sought to identify the signals modulated with neural TrkA inhibition. A combination of single cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis was performed on the Achilles injury site of TrkAF592A animals and compared them to TrkAWT.
Project description:Peripheral afferent neurons terminate at the surfaces of tendons, yet their role after injury beyond nociceptive functions remain unclear. Using transgenic animal models, sensory neurons were found to sprout after Achilles tendon injury in domains of Nerve growth factor (NGF) expression. Conditional deletion of Ngf in either myeloid or mesenchymal cell types led to tendon repair defects – findings phenocopied by inactivation of TrkA (Tropomyosin receptor kinase A) using a knockin mouse model. We sought to identify the signals modulated with neural TrkA inhibition. A combination of single cell and spatial transcriptomic analysis was performed on the Achilles injury site of TrkA^F592A animals and compared them to TrkA^WT.