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Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Molecular Analysis of Endothelial-mesenchymal Transition Induced by Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling
Published on: August 3, 2018
[Effects of mannose-6-phosphate on transforming growth factor beta and transforming growth factor beta receptor
Ruixiang Yang1, Changsuo Xia, Xiuying Wang
1Department of Orthopaedics, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao Shandong, 266003, PR China.
Objective:
By culturing tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes and endotenon tenocytes of rabbits' tendon in vitro, to study the effects of mannose-6-phosphate on transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) peptide and receptor expression, and to provide the experimental basis for preventing the tendon healing adhesion by mannose-6-phosphate.
Methods:
Eight adult New Zealand white rabbits, regardless of their gender and weighing 4.0-4.5 kg, were selected. Tendon sheath fibroblasts, epitenon tenocytes, and endotenon tenocytes were isolated from rabbit flexor tendon and cultured separately. All 3 cells were divided into 2 groups at random after cells were adjusted to a concentration of 4 x 10(4) per well and 1 x 10(4)/mL. The first was the control group without supplementation. The experimental group was supplemented with mannose-6-phosphate. The expressions of TGF-beta and TGF-beta receptor were quantified with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was also assessed with in situ hybridization and the expression of TGF-beta1 was assessed with immunohistochemistry.
Results:
The expressions of TGF-beta and TGF-beta receptor in experimental group were significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The expression levels of TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta2 decreased in descending order of tendon sheath fibroblasts (36.1%, 37.9%), epitenon tenocytes (31.0%, 32.1%), and endotenon tenocytes (31.2%, 27.0%). The expression levels of TGF-beta3 decreased in descending order of endotenon tenocytes (42.5%), tendon sheath fibroblasts (41.2%), and epitenon tenocytes (33.3%). The expression levels of TGF-beta receptor 1 and TGF-beta receptor 2 decreased in descending order of epitenon tenocytes (29.9%, 26.2%), endotenon tenocytes (27.8%, 23.5%), and tendon sheath fibroblasts (23.1%, 20.0%). The expression levels of TGF-beta receptor 3 decreased in descending order of endotenon tenocytes (26.1%), epitenon tenocytes (19.2%), and tendon sheath fibroblasts (15.8%). In experimental group, the positive expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA and the expression level of intracellular TGF-beta1 mRNA in all 3 tendon cells were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining showed the expressions of TGF-beta1 in all 3 tendon cells were significantly lower in the experimental group than in the control group.
Conclusion:
Mannose-6-phosphate can significantly decrease the expressions of TGF-beta peptide, TGF-beta receptor, and TGF-beta1 mRNA. Modulation of mannose-6-phosphate levels may provide a mean of modulating the effects of TGF-beta on adhesion formation in flexor tendon wound healing.
