title: Tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) promote tendon repair in a rat patellar tendon window defect model.
abstract: Injured tendons heal slowly and often result in the formation of mechanically and functionally inferior fibrotic scar tissue or fibrous adhesions. This study investigated the use of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) for tendon repair in a rat patellar tendon window defect model. Fibrin glue constructs with or without GFP-TDSCs were transplanted into the window defect. The patellar tendons were harvested for histology, ex vivo fluorescent imaging and biomechanical test at various time points up to week 4. Our results showed that TDSCs significantly enhanced tendon healing as indicated by the increase in collagen production as shown by hematolxylin stain-ability of the tissue, improvement of cell alignment, collagen fiber alignment and collagen birefringence typical of tendon. The labeled cells were observed at weeks 1 and 2 and became almost undetectable at week 4. Both the ultimate stress and Young's modulus were significantly higher in the TDSCs group compared to those in the fibrin glue group at week 4. In conclusion, TDSCs promoted earlier and better repair in a rat patellar tendon window defect model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.forename: Pauline Po Yee
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Yun Feng
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Rui
authors.forename: Yuk Wa
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yuk Wai
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yin Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Siu Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Pui Man
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kai Ming
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D017847:Patellar Ligament / Q000166:cytology / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D055647:Rats, Transgenic; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000494:pharmacology; D023822:Tissue Engineering; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives