bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.04.06.647440

Atelocollagen exhibits superior performance compared to growth factors in upregulating proteins associated with tendon healing

Park, S.-J.·Yoon, J. P.·Oh, K.-S.·Chung, S. W.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

PurposeWe aimed to compare the effects of atelocollagen (AC) and individual growth factors on the expression of key molecular markers associated with tendon healing. MethodsC2C12 myoblasts were cultured in Dulbeccos Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 5% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and treated with 1 nM or 10 nM of Atelocollagen (AC), bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-{beta}1), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) for 5 days. After 5 days of treatment, cells were harvested from the culture medium, and Western blot analysis was performed to quantify the expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), Collagen type I (Col I), Collagen type III (Col III), and Tenascin C (TnC). Additionally, immunofluorescence staining was conducted to qualitatively assess cytoskeletal organization and cell adhesion, which are key factors in tendon healing. ResultsIn the AC-treated groups, the expression levels of p-ERK, Col I/Col III, and TnC were significantly higher compared to the groups treated with individual growth factors (BMP-2, IGF, VEGF, and TGF-{beta}1) (p < 0.05). These changes were dose-dependent, as there was no significant difference in protein expression between AC and the growth factors at 1 nM, whereas at 10 nM, AC treatment resulted in a significant increase (p < 0.05). In the cell proliferation assay, C2C12 myoblasts treated with AC at 10 nM exhibited significantly higher proliferation rates compared to those treated with individual growth factors (p < 0.05). Additionally, immunofluorescence analysis revealed greater cytoskeletal alignment in AC-treated cells, suggesting enhanced cell adhesion, structural organization, and mechanical stability. ConclusionsAC significantly upregulated key molecular markers involved in cell proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and tendon structural integrity more effectively than individual growth factors. The increased expression of these genes in myoblasts suggests ACs potential role in promoting tendon healing. Clinical relevanceThrough the modulation of key molecular pathways critical to tendon healing, AC presents strong potential as an effective biological augmentation strategy for improving tendon-to-bone interface healing after surgical repair.

Source connections

Explore related subjects

cell biologyPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Park, S.-J., Yoon, J. P., Oh, K.-S., Chung, S. W.. 2025-04-06. Atelocollagen exhibits superior performance compared to growth factors in upregulating proteins associated with tendon healing. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.04.06.647440

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Nucleosome Core Allostery Governs Chromatin Recognition and Cell Fate

Nucleosomes regulate chromatin folding, accessibility, and factor recruitment. Current models primarily attribute these functions to histone tail modifications, while the core is largely viewed as a structural scaffold. Yet subtle changes within the nucleosome core can produce profound functional consequences, and the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. Here, we describe nucleosome core allostery as a fundamental principle of chromatin regulation that amplifies the impact of minimal nucleosome variations. Leveraging natural differences between H2A.Z variants, we show that the nucleosome core encodes distinct conformational dynamics that propagate allosterically, thereby controlling nucleosome accessibility and recognition by chromatin factors. As a result, a single buried amino acid substitution alone is sufficient to reprogram nucleosome dynamics and bias cell identity. Our findings establish the nucleosome core as an allosteric regulatory module and provide a generalizable framework for how subtle variation within nucleosomes is amplified into diverse biological outcomes in development and disease.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

SOX4 Reprograms Adipose Stromal Cells into a Cancer-Associated Fibroblast-like State to Drive Metabolic Disease

Pathogenic adipose tissue remodeling promotes metabolic disease in obesity, but the mechanisms that establish this unhealthy tissue state remain poorly understood. Here, we show that obesity drives SOX4-dependent reprogramming of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) into cancer-associated fibroblast-like (CAF-like) cells that promote adipose tissue dysfunction. TGF{beta} signaling is elevated in obesity and activates SOX4 in mouse and human MSCs, inducing their conversion to a CAF-like state. In mice, MSC-specific SOX4 activation induces the CAF-like program and exacerbates adipose tissue inflammation and glucose intolerance, whereas Sox4 deletion attenuates inflammation and improves glucose homeostasis during obesity. We further identify the growth factor Midkine (MDK) as a SOX4-regulated paracrine effector produced by CAF-like cells. MDK inhibition in obese mice reduces adipose tissue inflammation and improves metabolic function. Together, these findings define a TGF{beta}-SOX4-MDK stromal signaling axis that drives pathological adipose tissue remodeling in obesity and highlight this pathway as a potential therapeutic target for improving metabolic health.

cell biology↗
bioRxiv2026

PDLIM5 Modulates YAP1 Localisation and Fibrogenic Gene Expression in Hepatic Stellate Cells

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the key cellular drivers of liver fibrosis. During liver injury and chronic inflammation HSCs adopt an activated phenotype and secrete fibrotic extracellular matrix (ECM) components such as collagen 1. Mechanical cues derived from the fibrotic ECM drive and support the activation of HSCs, via mechanisms that involve integrins and the mechano-sensitive transcriptional regulator YAP1. It is not yet well understood how external mechanical cues are translated into a molecular response that alters YAP1 nuclear shuttling. There is evidence that suggests the PDZ and LIM domain protein (PDLIM) 5 can regulate YAP1 shuttling in human epithelial cells. We therefore investigated whether PDLIM5 is expressed in HSCs and contributes to YAP1 associated HSC mechano-activation. PDLIM5 protein was detected in HSCs in fibrotic human and mouse liver. PDLIM5 transcript and protein were expressed by primary human and mouse HSCs and by the immortalised HSC LX-2 cell line. PDLIM5 localised with actin stress fibres suggesting a role in HSC adhesion. Co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation in LX-2 cells support an association between PDLIM5 and YAP1. We used pharmacological (paclitaxel) and genetic (siRNA and CRISPRi) approaches to inhibit PDLIM5 in HSCs. Inhibiting PDLIM5 reduced YAP1 nuclear localisation and fibrotic gene (COL1A1, ACTA2) expression in LX-2 cells. Overall, these data support a role for PDLIM5 in regulating YAP1 localisation and fibrogenic gene expression in HSCs.

cell biology↗