Perivascular-derived stem cells with neural crest characteristics are involved in tendon repair.
Tendons and ligaments exhibit limited regenerative capacity following injury, with damaged tissue being replaced by a fibrotic scar. The physiological role of scar tissue is complex and has been studied extensively. In this study, we demonstrate that rat tendons contain a unique subpopulation of cells exhibiting stem cell characteristics, including clonogenicity, multipotency, and self-renewal capacity. Additionally, these putative stem cells expressed markers consistent with neural crest stem cells (NCSCs). Using immunofluorescent labeling, we identified P75(+) (p75 neurotrophin receptor) cells in the perivascular regions of the native rat tendon. Importantly, P75(+) cells were frequently localized near vascular cells and increased in number within the peritenon after injury. Ultrastructural analysis showed that perivascular cells detached from vessels in response to injury, migrated into the interstitial space, and deposited extracellular matrix. Characterization of P75(+) cells isolated from the scar tissue indicated that this population also expressed the NCSC markers, Vimentin, Sox10, and Snail. In conclusion, our results suggest that neural crest-like stem cells of perivascular origin reside within the rat peritenon and give rise to scar-forming stromal cells following tendon injury.
1 Key Laboratory of Biorheological Science and Technology, Ministry of Education, Bioengineering College, Chongqing University , Chongqing, People's Republic of China .
Wei
W
Xu
Yanjun
Y
Sun
Jinye
J
Zhang
Kang
K
Xu
Lianhong
L
Pan
Long
L
He
Yang
Y
Song
Lucy
L
Njunge
Zhiling
Z
Xu
Martin Y M
MY
Chiang
Kuo-Li Paul
KL
Sung
Cheng Ming
CM
Chuong
Li
L
Yang
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology; D058953:Neural Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013710:Tendons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014746:Vimentin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014945:Wound Healing
D020800:Receptor, Nerve Growth Factor; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C000604450:Snai2 protein, rat; D000071250:Snail Family Transcription Factors; C527925:Sox10 protein, rat; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014746:Vimentin