Interleukin-1b in Tendon Injury Enhances Reparative Gene and Protein Expression in Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Intralesional mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy has improved tissue architecture and reinjury rates in equine tendon injury; however, the mechanisms by which they promote repair are still being investigated. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine how the predominate pro-inflammatory cytokines present in a surgically induced model of equine tendon injury modulate MSC gene and protein expression. Comparative gene expression analysis (RNA-seq) of paired (naïve or licensed) equine mesenchymal stem cells (n=6) following IL-1b or IL-6 licensing.