title: Scaffold-free Scleraxis-programmed tendon progenitors aid in significantly enhanced repair of full-size Achilles tendon rupture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Currently there is no effective approach to enhance tendon repair, hence we aimed to identify a suitable cell source for tendon engineering utilizing an established clinically relevant animal model for tendon injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared, by in-depth histomorphometric evaluation, the regenerative potential of uncommitted human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and Scleraxis (Scx)-programmed tendon progenitors (hMSC-Scx) in the healing of a full-size of rat Achilles tendon defect.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our analyses clearly demonstrated that implantation of hMSC-Scx, in contrast to hMSC and empty defect, results in smaller diameters, negligible ectopic calcification and advanced cellular organization and matrix maturation in the injured tendons.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scaffold-free delivery of hMSC-Scx aids in enhanced repair in a clinically translatable Achilles tendon injury model.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Chi-Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alberton
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loffredo-Verde
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Volkmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University Hospital Grosshadern, LMU, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pietschmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University Hospital Grosshadern, LMU, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schieker
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University (LMU), Nussbaumstr. 20, 80336 Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Denitsa
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Docheva
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D012038:Regeneration; D012421:Rupture / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Scleraxis; mesenchymal stem cells; tendon healing; tendon progenitors