RNA-seq analysis of Scx-lineage cell depletion to investigate tendon cell functions during flexor tendon healing

Little is understood about the roles of tendon cells during flexor tendon healing. To better understand tendon cell functions, the Scx-Cre mouse was crossed to the DTR mouse model to facilitate scleraxis lineage cell depletion prior to acute flexor tendon injury and repair. WT (cre-) and experimental (cre+) mice underwent complete transection and repair of the flexor digitorum longus tendon. Repaired tendons were harvested at 14 and 28 days post-repair for bulk RNA-Seq analysis to examine possible mechanisms driving differential healing due to Scx lineage cell depletion. Transcriptomes of D14 and D28 repaired tendons with or without scleraxis lineage depletion driven by the DTR mouse model were generated in triplicate.