New research from the University of Liverpool, published in the journal Scientific Reports, has identified that in tendon ageing has distinct and opposite effects on the genes expressed in males and females.
Tendons are bundles or bands of strong fibres that attach muscles to bones. Tendons transfer force from the muscle to the bone to produce the movement of joints.
Tendinopathy is a set of tendon disease that results in the tendons not functioning normally. Its development increases in frequency with age.
In this, the first study of its kind, researchers from the University's Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, analysed in parallel a number of gene datasets from male and females from two age groups (20-24 and 54-70 years) to identify sex-specific gene expression changes with age.
Every cell in a human body contains a complete set of chromosomes with every gene needed to make every protein that that organism will ever make. However only a very small fraction of these genes are ever expressed in specific tissues at any one time.
Each cell is specialised to carry out certain tasks and will only need to express certain genes. Gene expression is the process by which specific genes are activated to produce a required protein.
The researchers analysed these genes and identified distinct molecular pathways which affect ageing in tendon dependent on gender.
The results highlight the importance of gender differences which are frequently neglected in gene expression studies.
Lead researcher Dr Mandy Peffers, said: "Our research highlights the possible need to treat tendon disease differently in males and females because alternative mechanisms may be involved.
"Our findings could help in the treatment of more bespoke treatments for this large patient group."
Dr Peffers is funded through a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate fellowship. This work was supported by the MRC and Arthritis Research UK as part of the MRC -- Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA).
Materials provided by University of Liverpool. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.
Disclaimer: DoveMed is not responsible for the accuracy of the adapted version of news releases posted to DoveMed by contributing universities and institutions.
References:
Louise I. Pease, Peter D. Clegg, Carole J. Proctor, Daryl J. Shanley, Simon J. Cockell, Mandy J. Peffers. (2017). Cross platform analysis of transcriptomic data identifies ageing has distinct and opposite effects on tendon in males and females. Scientific Reports. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14650-z
and connect with fellow professionals
At DoveMed, our utmost priority is your well-being. We are an online medical resource dedicated to providing you with accurate and up-to-date information on a wide range of medical topics. But we're more than just an information hub - we genuinely care about your health journey. That's why we offer a variety of products tailored for both healthcare consumers and professionals, because we believe in empowering everyone involved in the care process.
Our mission is to create a user-friendly healthcare technology portal that helps you make better decisions about your overall health and well-being. We understand that navigating the complexities of healthcare can be overwhelming, so we strive to be a reliable and compassionate companion on your path to wellness.
As an impartial and trusted online resource, we connect healthcare seekers, physicians, and hospitals in a marketplace that promotes a higher quality, easy-to-use healthcare experience. You can trust that our content is unbiased and impartial, as it is trusted by physicians, researchers, and university professors around the globe. Importantly, we are not influenced or owned by any pharmaceutical, medical, or media companies. At DoveMed, we are a group of passionate individuals who deeply care about improving health and wellness for people everywhere. Your well-being is at the heart of everything we do.
0 Comments
Please log in to post a comment.