About this Research Topic
Tendon stem cells play important roles in tendon development, homeostasis and repair. Tendon stem cells and their extracellular microenvironments provide signals that control their metabolic status, self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation potentials. The niche factors include secreted soluble factors, neighbouring cells, extracellular matrices, oxidative stress, mechanical stimuli, etc. Both intrinsic cellular deficits and pathological micro-environmental cues could alter the functions of tendon stem cells, resulting in fibrosis, ectopic ossification and poor outcomes of tendon repair. Understanding the functional niche regulators for tendon stem cells and their roles in the physiological and pathological processes is essential for the development of new therapies for tendon disorders and repair.
With the development of new technologies, such as lineage tracing, single cell sequencing, multi-omics, 3D imaging and other cutting-edge technologies, our knowledge on the tendon stem cells is rapidly expanding. Recently, subpopulations of tendon stem cells have been identified through single cell RNA-sequencing, such as Tppp3+Pdgfra+ cells and Nes+Scx+ cells. These discoveries are important for the therapeutic manipulation of endogenous tendon stem cells and the re-establishment of a functional niche, for the development of new treatment strategies of tendon injuries and tendinopathy.
This Research Topic aims to focus on the current understanding of basic biology and applications of tendon stem cells in tendon tissue engineering and tendon disorder management. Original Research, Methods, Review and Mini-Review articles are all welcome. The articles may cover, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Identity and subpopulation of tendon stem cells
• Tendon stem cells phenotype maintenance and aging
• Tendon stem cells and their interactions with microenvironment
• The role of tendon stem cells in tendinopathy
• The regulatory mechanism of tendon stem cells differentiation
• Tendon stem cells in tendon repair
• Tendon stem cells fate in tendon development
With the development of new technologies, such as lineage tracing, single cell sequencing, multi-omics, 3D imaging and other cutting-edge technologies, our knowledge on the tendon stem cells is rapidly expanding. Recently, subpopulations of tendon stem cells have been identified through single cell RNA-sequencing, such as Tppp3+Pdgfra+ cells and Nes+Scx+ cells. These discoveries are important for the therapeutic manipulation of endogenous tendon stem cells and the re-establishment of a functional niche, for the development of new treatment strategies of tendon injuries and tendinopathy.
This Research Topic aims to focus on the current understanding of basic biology and applications of tendon stem cells in tendon tissue engineering and tendon disorder management. Original Research, Methods, Review and Mini-Review articles are all welcome. The articles may cover, but not limited to, the following topics:
• Identity and subpopulation of tendon stem cells
• Tendon stem cells phenotype maintenance and aging
• Tendon stem cells and their interactions with microenvironment
• The role of tendon stem cells in tendinopathy
• The regulatory mechanism of tendon stem cells differentiation
• Tendon stem cells in tendon repair
• Tendon stem cells fate in tendon development
Keywords: Tendon stem cells, tendon tissue engineering, cell differentiation, phenotype maintenance, cell-matrix interaction
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
