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REVIEW article
Front. Cell Dev. Biol.
Sec. Epigenomics and Epigenetics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1516250
This article is part of the Research Topic Revelation of Epigenetic Modifications in Non-Apoptotic Programmed Cell Death View all articles
Epigenetic mechanisms in stem cell therapies for Achilles tendinopathy
Provisionally accepted- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital Of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
Achilles tendinopathy (AT) is a chronic degenerative tendinopathy that affects people's daily lives. Multiple clinical studies have found that current conservative treatments fail to promote quality tendon healing. Recent studies have found that stem cell therapy can target pathophysiological changes in the tendon by replenishing tendon-derived cells, promoting extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and modulating the inflammatory response to improve the microenvironment of Achilles tendon regeneration. And epigenetic modifications play an important role in stem cell fate determination and function. In this review, we provided a brief overview of the biological properties of relevant stem cells. The influence of epigenetic modifications on stem cell proliferation, differentiation, and immune regulatory function in the treatment of AT was also explored. We focused on gene regulatory mechanisms controlled by DNA methylation, histones and non-coding RNAs including microRNAs, circRNAs and long non-coding RNAs. We also discuss the current challenges faced by stem cell therapies in treating AT and their potential solutions. Further research in this area will provide a more comprehensive epigenetic explanation for stem cell therapy for AT, leading to the development of stable, safe and effective stem cell therapies.
Keywords: Achilles tendinopathy, epigenetics, Stem Cell Therapy, DNA Methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNAs
Received: 24 Oct 2024; Accepted: 20 Feb 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Yuan, Yao, Mao, Gao, Wu and Mao. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Haijiao Mao, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital Of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.