Elucidating the function of a distinct cell population in adult mammalian tendons

肌腱损伤是活跃个体和老年人的常见问题。尽管手术 介入治疗可恢复体力和活动能力，并发症多，失败率高等 以及与运动相关的疼痛。更好地理解分子 以及调节肌腱组织维持、细胞更新和损伤的细胞机制 反应将具有显著的治疗意义。研究表明，来自 肌腱组织具有干/祖细胞特征，并且它们被认为有助于 肌腱组织稳态和修复。然而，这些研究是在提取后进行的。 以及我们目前对这些细胞在体内行为的了解 在维修和受伤的反应是非常有限的。另外，我们也没有办法 前瞻性地识别，遗传靶向，并研究独特的肌腱细胞群，在他们的原生 环境我们建议采用谱系追踪策略来研究细胞更新率、基因表达和细胞周期。 表达和功能特性的独特的遗传标记的肌腱细胞亚群在体内。 使用这些方法，我们将测试这一假设，这一特定标记的子集， 肌腱细胞是常驻的肌腱祖细胞，并且需要特定的途径来进行适当的 肌腱愈合反应。对这种独特细胞群的了解将影响我们的基础研究。 了解肌腱内细胞类型的多样性，将大大提高我们的研究水平。 直接分离和遗传操作这些细胞的能力。这项工作是至关重要的一步 研究独特的肌腱祖细胞群体在其自然环境中， 为未来的研究提供基础，旨在阐明调节其 活动

Tendon injuries are common problems for active individuals and aging adults. Although surgical intervention can restore strength and mobility, frequent complications, such as a high failure rate and pain associated with movement, often occur. An improved understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating tendon tissue maintenance, cell renewal, and injury response would have significant therapeutic implications. Studies have shown that cells from tendon tissues have stem/progenitor cell characteristics, and they are thought to contribute to tendon tissue homeostasis and repair. However, these studies were performed after extraction and expansion in culture, and our current knowledge as to the in vivo behaviors of these cells during maintenance and injury response is very limited. In addition, we have no means to prospectively identify, genetically target, and study unique tendon cell populations in their native environment. We propose to employ lineage tracing strategies to study cell turnover rates, gene expression, and functional properties of a uniquely genetically labeled tendon cell subset in vivo. Using these approaches, we will test the hypothesis that this specifically labeled subset of tendon cells are resident tendon progenitors and that a specific pathway is required for proper tendon healing responses. Knowledge of this distinct cell population will impact our fundamental understanding of the diversity of cell types within the tendon and would significantly advance our ability to directly isolate and genetically manipulate these cells. This work is a crucial step towards studying unique tendon progenitor cell populations in their native environment and will provide the foundation for future studies aimed at elucidating mechanisms regulating their activities.