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Tendon Stem Cells: Mechanobiology and Development of Tendinopathy

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Metabolic Influences on Risk for Tendon Disorders

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 920))

Abstract

Millions of people suffer from tendon injuries in both occupational and athletic settings. However, the restoration of normal structure and function to injured tendons still remains as one of the greatest challenges in orthopaedics and sports medicine. In recent years, a remarkable advancement in tendon research field has been the discovery of tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSCs). Unlike tenocytes, the predominant resident cell in tendons, TSCs have the ability to self-renew and multi-differentiate. Because of these distinct properties, TSCs may play a critical role in tendon physiology as well as pathology such as tendinopathy, which is a prevalent chronic tendon injury. Additionally, because TSCs are tendon-specific stem cells, they could potentially be used in tendon tissue engineering in vitro, and serve as a promising cell sourceĀ for cell-based therapy to effectively repair or even regenerate injured tendons in clinical settings.

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Abbreviations

ATSC:

Achilles tendon stem cell

Col. I:

Collagen type I

Col. II:

Collagen type II

FEM:

Finite element method

ITR:

Intensive treadmill running

MSCs:

Mesenchymal stem cells

MTR:

Moderate treadmill running

NS:

Nucleostemin

Scx:

Scleraxis

Tenom:

Tenomodulin

TSCs:

Tendon stem/progenitor cells

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the funding support received from NIH grants AR061395 and AR065949 (JHW). We also thank Dr. Nirmala Xavier for her assistance in the preparation of this review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MechanoBiology Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 210 Lothrop Street, BST, E1640, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA

    James H-C. WangĀ &Ā Issei Komatsu

Authors
  1. James H-C. Wang
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  2. Issei Komatsu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James H-C. Wang .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Paul W. Ackermann

  2. McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    David A. Hart

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Wang, J.HC., Komatsu, I. (2016). Tendon Stem Cells: Mechanobiology and Development of Tendinopathy. In: Ackermann, P., Hart, D. (eds) Metabolic Influences on Risk for Tendon Disorders. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 920. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33943-6_5

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