TY - JOUR A2 - Mussano, Federico AU - Lu, Kang AU - Tang, Hong AU - Wang, Yang AU - Wang, Liyuan AU - Zhou, Mei AU - He, Gang AU - Lu, Hao AU - Tang, Chuyue AU - Chen, Wan AU - Ma, Xiaoqing AU - Tang, Kanglai AU - Deng, Zhongliang PY - 2023 DA - 2023/01/13 TI - Micropattern Silk Fibroin Film Facilitates Tendon Repair In Vivo and Promotes Tenogenic Differentiation of Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells through the α2β1/FAK/PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway In Vitro SP - 2915826 VL - 2023 AB - Background. Tendon injuries are common clinical disorders. Due to the limited regeneration ability of tendons, tissue engineering technology is often used as an adjuvant treatment. This study explored the molecular pathways underlying micropattern SF film-regulated TSPC propensity and their repairing effects to highlight the application value of micropattern SF films. Methods. First, we characterized the physical properties of the micropattern SF films and explored their repairing effects on the injured tendons in vivo. Then, we seeded TSPCs on SF films in vitro and determined the micropattern SF film-induced gene expression and activation of signaling pathways in TSPCs through high-throughput RNA sequencing and proteomics assays. Results. The results of in vivo studies suggested that micropattern SF films can promote remodeling of the injured tendon. In addition, immunohistochemistry (IHC) results showed that tendon marker genes were significantly increased in the micropattern SF film repair group. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses demonstrated that micropattern SF film-induced genes and proteins in TSPCs were mainly enriched in the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/actin and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of integrins α2β1, tenascin-C (TNC), and tenomodulin (TNMD) and the phosphorylation of AKT were significantly increased in the micropattern SF film group, which could be abrogated by applying PI3K/AKT inhibitors. Conclusion. Micropattern SF films modified by water annealing can promote remodeling of the injured tendon in vivo and regulate the tendon differentiation of TSPCs through the α2β1/FAK/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in vitro. Therefore, they have great medical value in tendon repair. SN - 1687-966X UR - https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/2915826 DO - 10.1155/2023/2915826 JF - Stem Cells International PB - Hindawi KW - ER -