@article{HauserWodtkeTonderaetal.2019,
  author    = {Hauser, Sandra and Wodtke, Robert and Tondera, Christoph and Wodtke, Johanna and Neffe, Axel T. and Hampe, Jochen and Lendlein, Andreas and L{\"o}ser, Reik and Pietzsch, Jens},
  title     = {Characterization of Tissue Transglutaminase as a Potential Biomarker for Tissue Response toward Biomaterials},
  series = {ACS biomaterials science \& engineering},
  volume    = {5},
  journal   = {ACS biomaterials science \& engineering},
  number    = {11},
  publisher = {American Chemical Society},
  address   = {Washington},
  issn      = {2373-9878},
  doi       = {10.1021/acsbiomaterials.9b01299},
  pages     = {5979 -- 5989},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Tissue transglutaminase (TGase 2) is proposed to be important for biomaterial-tissue interactions due to its presence and versatile functions in the extracellular environment. TGase 2 catalyzes the cross-linking of proteins through its Ca2+-dependent acyltransferase activity. Moreover, it enhances the interactions between fibronectin and integrins, which in turn mediates the adhesion, migration, and motility of the cells. TGase 2 is also a key player in the pathogenesis of fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether TGase 2 is present at the biomaterial tissue interface and might serve as an informative biomarker for the visualization of tissue response toward gelatin-based biomaterials. Two differently cross-linked hydrogels were used, which were obtained by the reaction of gelatin with lysine diisocyanate ethyl ester. The overall expression of TGase 2 by endothelial cells, macrophages, and granulocytes was partly influenced by contact to the hydrogels or their degradation products, although no clear correlation was evidenced. In contrast, the secretion of TGase 2 differed remarkably between the different cells, indicating that it might be involved in the cellular reaction toward gelatin-based hydrogels. The hydrogels were implanted subcutaneously in immunocompetent, hairless SKH1-Elite mice. Ex vivo immunohistochemical analysis of tissue sections over 112 days revealed enhanced expression of TGase 2 around the hydrogels, in particular at days 14 and 21 post-implantation. The incorporation of fluorescently labeled cadaverine derivatives for the detection of active TGase 2 was in accordance with the results of the expression analysis. The presence of an irreversible inhibitor of TGase 2 led to attenuated incorporation of the cadaverines, which verified the catalytic action of TGase 2. Our in vitro and ex vivo results verified TGase 2 as a potential biomarker for tissue response toward gelatin-based hydrogels. In vivo, no TGase 2 activity was detectable, which is mainly attributed to the unfavorable physicochemical properties of the cadaverine probe used.},
  language  = {en}
}