AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is essential for tendon homeostasis and prevents premature senescence and ectopic calcification.

ABSTRACT: Tendinopathy is a debilitating tendon disorder affecting millions of people, characterized by pain, swelling, and diminished biomechanical properties. While the precise mechanisms underlying tendon homeostasis remain unclear, metabolic regulation plays a critical role. In this study, we combine transcriptomic analysis of human tendinopathic samples with a conditional mouse model in which Prkaa1 (encoding AMPKα1) is selectively deleted in tendon progenitors to elucidate the role of AMPK signaling in tendon homeostasis. RNA sequencing of diseased human tendons revealed downregulation of key metabolic genes, including several involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and AMPK signaling pathways, alongside an increase in markers associated with senescence and a secretory inflammat

SUBMITTER: Hold LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11838443 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature