Mkx mediates tenogenic differentiation but incompletely inhibits the proliferation of hypoxic MSCs

Abstract Background Hypoxia has been shown to be able induce tenogenic differentiation and proliferation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which lead hypoxia-induced MSCs a potential treatment for tendon injury. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying process hypoxic MSCs, limited application differentiation-inducing therapies in repair. This study was designed investigate role Mohawk homeobox (Mkx) MSCs. Methods qRT-PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence staining were performed evaluate expression Mkx other tendon-associated markers adipose-derived (AMSCs) bone marrow-derived (BMSCs) under hypoxia condition. Small interfering RNA technique applied observe effect levels on normoxic BMSCs. Hypoxic BMSCs infected with Mkx-specific short hair (shRNA) or scramble implanted into wound gaps injured patellar tendons assess In addition, cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation unit cycle analysis, EdU assay adopted determine capacity without shRNA. Results Our data showed that significantly increased AMSCs much higher results also detected after downregulation decreased not only BMSCs, but paralleled inferior histological evidences, worse biomechanical properties, smaller diameters collagen fibrils vivo. our vitro demonstrated optical density values, clone numbers, percentage S phage, both all knockdown enhanced condition upregulated. Conclusions These findings strongly suggested mediated could completely repress