Co-transfection of decorin and interleukin-10 modulates pro-fibrotic extracellular matrix gene expression in human tenocyte culture

Abstract

Extracellular matrix synthesis and remodelling are driven by increased activity of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). In tendon tissue repair, increased activity of TGF-beta 1 leads to progressive fibrosis. Decorin (DCN) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) antagonise pathological collagen synthesis by exerting a neutralising effect via downregulation of TGF-beta 1. Herein, we report that the delivery of DCN and IL-10 transgenes from a collagen hydrogel system supresses the constitutive expression of TGF-beta 1 and a range of pro-fibrotic extracellular matrix genes