TY - JOUR
T1 - Transcription factor EGR1 directs tendon differentiation and promotes tendon repair
AU - Guerquin, Marie Justine
AU - Charvet, Benjamin
AU - Nourissat, Geoffroy
AU - Havis, Emmanuelle
AU - Ronsin, Olivier
AU - Bonnin, Marie Ange
AU - Ruggiu, Mathilde
AU - Olivera-Martinez, Isabel
AU - Robert, Nicolas
AU - Lu, Yinhui
AU - Kadler, Karl E.
AU - Baumberger, Tristan
AU - Doursounian, Levon
AU - Berenbaum, Francis
AU - Duprez, Delphine
PY - 2013/8/1
Y1 - 2013/8/1
N2 - Tendon formation and repair rely on specific combinations of transcription factors, growth factors, and mechanical parameters that regulate the production and spatial organization of type I collagen. Here, we investigated the function of the zinc finger transcription factor EGR1 in tendon formation, healing, and repair using rodent animal models and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Adult tendons of Egr1-/- mice displayed a deficiency in the expression of tendon genes, including Scx, Col1a1, and Col1a2, and were mechanically weaker compared with their WT littermates. EGR1 was recruited to the Col1a1 and Col2a1 promoters in postnatal mouse tendons in vivo. Egr1 was required for the normal gene response following tendon injury in a mouse model of Achilles tendon healing. Forced Egr1 expression programmed MSCs toward the tendon lineage and promoted the formation of in vitro-engineered tendons from MSCs. The application of EGR1-producing MSCs increased the formation of tendon-like tissues in a rat model of Achilles tendon injury. We provide evidence that the ability of EGR1 to promote tendon differentiation is partially mediated by TGF-β2. This study demonstrates EGR1 involvement in adult tendon formation, healing, and repair and identifies Egr1 as a putative target in tendon repair strategies.
AB - Tendon formation and repair rely on specific combinations of transcription factors, growth factors, and mechanical parameters that regulate the production and spatial organization of type I collagen. Here, we investigated the function of the zinc finger transcription factor EGR1 in tendon formation, healing, and repair using rodent animal models and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Adult tendons of Egr1-/- mice displayed a deficiency in the expression of tendon genes, including Scx, Col1a1, and Col1a2, and were mechanically weaker compared with their WT littermates. EGR1 was recruited to the Col1a1 and Col2a1 promoters in postnatal mouse tendons in vivo. Egr1 was required for the normal gene response following tendon injury in a mouse model of Achilles tendon healing. Forced Egr1 expression programmed MSCs toward the tendon lineage and promoted the formation of in vitro-engineered tendons from MSCs. The application of EGR1-producing MSCs increased the formation of tendon-like tissues in a rat model of Achilles tendon injury. We provide evidence that the ability of EGR1 to promote tendon differentiation is partially mediated by TGF-β2. This study demonstrates EGR1 involvement in adult tendon formation, healing, and repair and identifies Egr1 as a putative target in tendon repair strategies.
U2 - 10.1172/JCI67521
DO - 10.1172/JCI67521
M3 - Article
C2 - 23863709
SN - 0021-9738
VL - 123
SP - 3564
EP - 3576
JO - Journal of Clinical Investigation
JF - Journal of Clinical Investigation
IS - 8
ER -