# Integrated mechanobiology of tenocytes and stem cells during tendon growth

> **NIH NIH R01** · HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY · 2022 · $383,328

## Abstract

Abstract
 Our purpose is to gain a greater understanding of the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms that
regulate tendon growth, and to apply this knowledge to the treatment of tendinopathies and tendon injuries.
Tenocytes are the major cell population in tendon. They are terminally differentiated cells which play
important roles in tendon extracellular matrix (ECM) growth and remodeling. Recent work from our lab and
others has identified a population of CD146+ pericytes which exist in the vasculature that directly surrounds
tendon tissue. These pericytes appear able to migrate to sites of tendon growth or injury, differentiate into
tenocytes, and contribute to the formation of new tendon extracellular matrix. The discovery of this new
stem cell population is exciting, as it could directly lead to improved treatments for tendon disorders. Little is
known about the factors that regulate the activity of these cells. Using a combination of molecular genetics,
tissue mechanics, and bioinformatics techniques, our goal is to gain a greater understanding of how
tenocytes respond to mechanical growth signals, and relay this information to pericytes. Our working
hypothesis is that mechanical loading causes tenocytes to release factors that activate pericytes in the
vasculature, which then migrate into the tendon extracellular matrix and differentiate into tenocytes. These
studies will provide important insight into adult tenocyte and tendon stem cell biology, and lay the
groundwork for future translational studies to improve the treatment of tendinopathies and tendon injuries.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10453655
- **Project number:** 5R01AR063649-10
- **Recipient organization:** HOSPITAL FOR SPECIAL SURGERY
- **Principal Investigator:** SCOTT A RODEO
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $383,328
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-08-01 → 2024-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10453655

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10453655, Integrated mechanobiology of tenocytes and stem cells during tendon growth (5R01AR063649-10). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10453655. Licensed CC0.

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