Does erroneous differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells contribute to the pathogenesis of calcifying tendinopathy?

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 124; no. 4; pp. 606 - 610
• Main Authors: Rui, Yun-feng, Lui, Pauline Po-yee, Chan, Lai-shan, Chan, Kai-ming, Fu, Sai-chuen, Li, Gang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR,China 01.02.2011; The Hong Kong Jockey Club Sports Medicine and Health Sciences Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong,Hong Kong SAR, China; Program of Stem Cell and Regeneration, School of Biomedical Science, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR,China%Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR,China; Department of Orthopaedics, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011,China%Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR,China
• Subjects: Animals; Cell Differentiation - physiology; Humans; Mice; Rats; Stem Cells - pathology; Tendinopathy - etiology; Tendinopathy - pathology; Tendons - pathology; tendon-derived stem cells; cell differentiation; pathogenesis Calcifying tendinopathy is a tendon disorder with calcium deposits in the mid-substance presented with chronic activity-related pain,tenderness; calcifying tendinopathy; mesenchymal stem cells
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.2011.04.022
• ISSN: 0366-6999

Calcifying tendinopathy is a tendon disorder with calcium deposits in the mid-substance presented with chronic activity-related pain, tenderness, local edema and various degrees of incapacitation. Most of current treatments are neither effective nor evidence-based because its underlying pathogenesis is poorly understood and treatment is usually symptomatic. Understanding the pathogenesis of calcifying tendinopathy is essential for its effective evidence-based management. One of the key histopathological features of calcifying tendinopathy is the presence of chondrocyte phenotype which surrounds the calcific deposits, suggesting that the formation of calcific deposits was cell-mediated. Although the origin of cells participating in the formation of chondrocyte phenotype and ossification is still unknown, many evidences have suggested that erroneous tendon cell differentiation is involved in the process. Recent studies have shown the presence of stem cells with self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential in human, horse, mouse and rat tendon tissues. We hypothesized that the erroneous differentiation of tendon-derived stem cells (TDSCs) to chondrocytes or osteoblasts leads to chondrometaplasia and ossification and hence weaker tendon, failed healing and pain, in calcifying tendinopathy. We present a hypothetical model on the pathogenesis and evidences to support this hypothesis. Understanding the key role of TDSCs in the pathogenesis of calcifying tendinopathy and the mechanisms contributing to their erroneous differentiation would provide new opportunities for the management of calcifying tendinopathy. The re-direction of the differentiation of resident TDSCs to tenogenic or supplementation of MSCs programmed for tenogenic differentiation may be enticing targets for the management of calcifying tendinopathy in the future.