Evaluation of SS-31 as a Potential Strategy for Tendinopathy Treatment: An In Vitro Model

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Science
• Cell Biology
• Mitochondrial Medicine

Background:

• Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in supraspinatus tendinopathy.
• SS-31 (elamipretide) is known to enhance mitochondrial function.
• The therapeutic potential of SS-31 for tendinopathy remains unexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of SS-31 on mitochondrial function in human tenocytes from patients with tendinopathy.
• To determine if SS-31 can reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in degenerative tenocytes.

Main Methods:

• Human tenocytes from healthy and tendinopathic donors were cultured.
• Tenocytes were treated with SS-31 (1μM) for 72 hours.
• Mitochondrial potential, morphology, ROS, SOD activity, gene expression, and cell viability were assessed.

Main Results:

• Degenerative tenocytes showed increased mitochondrial depolarization and altered morphology, which improved with SS-31 treatment.
• SS-31 treatment increased superoxidative dismutase activity and reduced upregulated matrix metalloproteinase-1 and fatty acid-binding protein 4 gene expression.
• Cell viability in degenerative tenocytes showed a slight improvement with SS-31.

Conclusions:

• Tenocytes from degenerative tendons exhibit mitochondrial dysfunction.
• SS-31 demonstrates potential to improve mitochondrial function and morphology in tendinopathy.
• SS-31 may serve as a therapeutic agent for promoting tendinopathy healing.