Age may reduce ability of tendons to repair themselves

Date: Aug-05-2014 New research from the UK suggests that tendons break down with age because they lose the

ability to repair themselves effectively, allowing protein fragments to accumulate over time. The

researchers, from Queen Mary University of London and the University of Liverpool, hope their

findings will offer targets for treatments to prevent breakdown of tendon tissue.

Dr. Hazel Screen, a reader in biomedical engineering at the School of Engineering and

Materials Science at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), and colleagues describe their work

in a study paper published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry.

It is not just athletes who need well-functioning tendons such as the Achilles, an important

one for storing energy and also prone to injury; they are also important for ordinary people to

be able to go about their everyday activities.

Molecular mechanisms of tendon injury and aging not well understood

The researchers found that there are specific ways protein fragments break down in older tendons.

However, while we know that risk of injury to tendons increases with age, the underlying

cellular and molecular mechanisms are not well understood, although scientists believe it has

something to do with changes to the way tissue is renewed and repaired.

For the study, Dr. Screen and colleagues analyzed proteins and protein fragments from injured

and uninjured tendon tissue in horses of all ages. Horses and humans have similar tendon tissue

structure that breaks down in a similar way following injury.

The analysis showed that young and old tendons have distinct protein profiles, with

differences in levels of proteins involved in organizing the tissue structure and regulating cell

tension.

The researchers also found several new protein fragments in aged healthy tendons, suggesting

there are specific ways that the proteins break down in older tendons.

They found young and old injured tendons also have distinct protein profiles - plus

there was evidence of greater protein breakdown in young injured tendons.

Study suggests tendon tissue's ability to self-repair wanes as it gets older

The study concludes that the findings give new information about the molecular events

surrounding tendon aging, and suggest maintenance and repair of tendon tissue may reduce with

age. They may also explain why risk of tendon injury increases with age.

The team also hopes the new information, which represents an important first step in

understanding how our tissues break down as we age, will help find ways to prevent it

occurring.

Meanwhile, in November 2013, Medical News Today reported on a study that demonstrated

how researchers are working on an improved way of repairing

tendons using a new technique for suturing tissue-engineered collagen graft.

Written by Catharine Paddock PhD

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Courtesy: Medical News Today Note: Any medical information available in this news section is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a health care professional.