Doctors Discover New Stem Cells to Treat Tendon Injuries

By Hal Blatman MD on Jun 29, 2020 in Blog, Stem Cells, Treatments

stem cells regenerative therapy

Recovery from tendon injuries can be painful and debilitating, primarily due to excess scar tissue buildup. And secondary injuries are common. New research, however, suggests that tendon stem cells could successfully be utilized to relieve tendons without the need for invasive surgery.

The results are very promising to stem cell doctors and the patients we treat.

The research was recently published in Nature Cell Biology.

“Tendons are connective tissue that tether our muscles to our bones,” explained Chen-Ming Fan, lead researcher for the project at the Carnegie Institution for Science. “They improve our stability and facilitate the transfer of force that allows us to move. But they are also particularly susceptible to injury and damage.”

A New Treatment with Improved Mobility Possible

Once these tendons are injured, recovery is rare, and results are mixed. Mobility is limited and long term pain management is often necessary. Often, patients require surgery.

But Fran discovered previously undefined tendon stem cells just below the kneecap. He conducted his research alongside Carnegie’s Tyler Harvey and Sara Flamenco.

“Because tendon injuries rarely heal completely, it was thought that tendon stem cells might not exist,” said lead author Harvey. “Many searched for them to no avail, but our work defined them for the first time.”

Science Daily reports:

“Surprisingly, the team’s research showed that both fibrous scar tissue cells and tendon stem cells originate in the same space — the protective cells that surround a tendon. What’s more, these tendon stem cells are part of a competitive system with precursors of fibrous scars, which explains why tendon healing is such a challenge.”

A protein called platelet-derived growth factor-A activates both tendon stem cells and scar tissue precursor cells.

“Tendon stem cells exist, but they must outcompete the scar tissue precursors in order to prevent the formation of difficult, fibrous scars,” Fan explained. “Finding a therapeutic way to block the scar-forming cells and enhance the tendon stem cells could be a game-changer when it comes to treating tendon injuries.

Hal Blatman MD

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