RNA-sequencing of Rabbit Hamstring Allografts

The purpose of this study was to characterize the baseline transcriptional state of semitendinosus autografts in a rabbit model for ACL reconstruction in an effort to guide gene selection for future analyses. These results strengthen the association between genes such as DCN, COL1A1, and COL1A2 and tendon tissues as well as provide the novel addition of further highly expressed tendon characteristic genes such as SPARC and PRELP. These results provide guidance as to which molecules serve as high-signal candidates for future ACL research. RNA sequencing was performed on mRNA extracted from whole semitendinosus autografts from four New Zealand White rabbits and subsequently analyzed using gene enrichment and protein-protein interaction network analysis