Nociceptive sensory neuron-derived NGF orchestrates a fibrotic mesenchymal stromal cell neurogenic niche to drive tendon pathological fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Excessive fibrosis, rather than endogenous tissue regeneration, often results from peripheral tissue injury repair, presenting a significant clinical challenge due to its poor reversibility and limited treatment options. A key factor contributing to this outcome is the aberrant commitment of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to a fibrotic lineage. However, the upstream signals driving this pathological differentiation remain unclear. In this study, we identify nociceptive sensory neuron rather than local cell-derived nerve growth factor (NGF) as a critical signaling factor guiding the formation of the fibrotic MSCs neurogenic niche, thereby driving MSC-mediated fibrosis. Using nociceptive sensory denervation and NGF knockout genetic models, we demonstrate that disrupting sensory nerve inner

SUBMITTER: Li Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816624 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature