Surgery-Induced Stress Promotes SOX9 Nuclear Localization and Increases COL2A1 in Tracheal Cartilage

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Airway reconstruction elicits a surgery-induced stress (SIS) response, with unclear effects on cartilage regeneration.
• SOX9 is crucial for cartilage regeneration, regulating type II collagen (COL2A1) production, but its role in SIS is unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of SOX9 in tracheal chondrocytes following airway reconstruction.
• To assess SOX9 nuclear expression and COL2A1 localization in response to SIS in a mouse model.

Main Methods:

• Primary tracheal chondrocytes were isolated and cultured from C57BL/6J mice.
• Syngeneic tracheal grafts were implanted orthotopically.
• SOX9 and COL2A1 expression and localization were analyzed in graft, host, and anastomosis tissues at 1 month post-implantation.

Main Results:

• Primary chondrocytes exhibited strong nuclear SOX9 and cytoplasmic COL2A1 expression.
• One month post-implantation, SOX9 nuclear colocalization significantly increased in host and anastomosis tissues, but not in the graft.
• COL2A1 intensity was significantly higher in graft, host, and anastomosis cartilage compared to native cartilage.

Conclusions:

• Increased SOX9 and COL2A1 expression post-tracheal reconstruction suggests a chondrocyte response to SIS.
• SOX9 nuclear localization may regulate COL2A1 in tracheal chondrocytes during cartilage repair.
• SOX9 shows potential as a therapeutic target for improving graft integration and airway stability.