Figure 7

Peritenon-derived progenitor conditioned media stimulates expression of tendon differentiation markers and matrix assembly genes. Treatment of tendon proper-derived progenitors and tenocytes with peritenon-derived progenitor conditioned media (PERI) resulted in increased expression of the tendon markers Scx (A) and Tnmd (B), as well as vascular marker Emcn (C). When tendon proper-derived progenitors and tenocytes were treated with PERI conditioned media, expression of matrix assembly genes increased as a trend for Bgn (D), Dcn (E), Col12a1 (F) and Col11a1 (K); and significantly for Col14a1 (G), Col1a1 (H), Col3a1 (I) and Col5a1 (J). Peritenon-derived progenitors were not stimulated by tendon proper-derived progenitor or tenocyte conditioned media. (Biological replicates, n = 4 to 8; Mann–Whitney-Wilcoxon test relative to control media for each cell type for each gene assayed – P <0.01, *; P <0.05, #).