Scaffold-free Scleraxis-programmed tendon progenitors aid in significantly enhanced repair of full-size Achilles tendon rupture. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hsieh, Chi-Fen; Alberton, Paolo; Loffredo-Verde, Eva; Volkmer, Elias; Pietschmann, Matthias; Müller, Peter; Schieker, Matthias; Docheva, Denitsa
• Is Part Of: Nanomedicine. Volume 11:Number 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1153
• Page End: 1167
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: mesenchymal stem cells -- Scleraxis -- tendon healing -- tendon progenitors; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Medical technology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Therapeutic use -- Periodicals; 610.28
• DOI: 10.2217/nnm.16.34
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-5889

Abstract

Aim: Currently there is no effective approach to enhance tendon repair, hence we aimed to identify a suitable cell source for tendon engineering utilizing an established clinically relevant animal model for tendon injury.Materials & methods: We compared, by in-depth histomorphometric evaluation, the regenerative potential of uncommitted human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and Scleraxis ( Scx )-programmed tendon progenitors (hMSC-Scx) in the healing of a full-size of rat Achilles tendon defect.Results: Our analyses clearly demonstrated that implantation of hMSC-Scx, in contrast to hMSC and empty defect, results in smaller diameters, negligible ectopic calcification and advanced cellular organization and matrix maturation in the injured tendons.Conclusion : Scaffold-free delivery of hMSC-Scx aids in enhanced repair in a clinically translatable Achilles tendon injury model.