Single-cell analysis reveals a nestin⁺ tendon stem/progenitor cell population with strong tenogenic potentiality.

ABSTRACT: The repair of injured tendons remains a formidable clinical challenge because of our limited understanding of tendon stem cells and the regulation of tenogenesis. With single-cell analysis to characterize the gene expression profiles of individual cells isolated from tendon tissue, a subpopulation of nestin⁺ tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) was identified within the tendon cell population. Using Gene Expression Omnibus datasets and immunofluorescence assays, we found that nestin expression was activated at specific stages of tendon development. Moreover, isolated nestin⁺ TSPCs exhibited superior tenogenic capacity compared to nestin^- TSPCs. Knockdown of nestin expression in TSPCs suppressed their clonogenic capacity and reduced their tenogenic potential

SUBMITTER: Yin Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5262457 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature