Indirect co-culture with tenocytes promotes proliferation and mRNA expression of tendon/ligament related genes in rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Recent evidences have suggested that humoral factors released from the appropriate co-cultured cells influenced the expansion and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, little is known about the proliferation and differentiation of MSCs subjected to co-culture condition with tenocytes. In this study, we aimed to establish a co-culture system of MSCs and tenocytes and investigate the proliferation and tendon/ligament related gene expression of MSCs. MTT assay was used to detect the expansion of MSCs. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was performed to investigate the expression of proliferation associated c-fos gene and tendon/ligament related genes, including type I collagen (Col I), type III collagen (Col III), tenascin C and scleraxis. Significant increase in MSCs expansion was observed after 3 days of co-culture with tenocytes. The c-fos gene expression was found distinctly higher than for control group on day 4 and day 7 of co-culture. The mRNA expression of four tendon/ligament related genes was significantly up-regulated after 14 days of co-culture with tenocytes. Thus, our research indicates that indirect co-culture with tenocytes promotes the proliferation and mRNA expression of tendon/ligament related genes in MSCs, which suggests a directed differentiation of MSCs into tendon/ligament.