A latent Axin2⁺/Scx⁺ progenitor pool is the central organizer of tendon healing.

ABSTRACT: A tendon's ordered extracellular matrix (ECM) is essential for transmitting force but is also highly prone to injury. How tendon cells embedded within and surrounding this dense ECM orchestrate healing is not well understood. Here, we identify a specialized quiescent Scx⁺/Axin2⁺ population in mouse and human tendons that initiates healing and is a major functional contributor to repair. Axin2⁺ cells express stem cell markers, expand in vitro, and have multilineage differentiation potential. Following tendon injury, Axin2⁺-descendants infiltrate the injury site, proliferate, and differentiate into tenocytes. Transplantation assays of Axin2-labeled cells into injured tendons reveal their dual capacity to significantly proliferate and differentiate

SUBMITTER: Grinstein M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11487078 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature