| First Author | Ackerman JE | Year | 2023 |
| Journal | Matrix Biol | PubMed ID | 38101460 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:343782 | Mgi Id | MGI:7570007 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.12.004 | Citation | Ackerman JE, et al. (2023) Identification of Periostin as a critical niche for myofibroblast dynamics and fibrosis during tendon healing. Matrix Biol |
| abstractText | Tendon injuries are a major clinical problem, with poor patient outcomes caused by abundant scar tissue deposition during healing. Myofibroblasts play a critical role in the initial restoration of structural integrity after injury. However, persistent myofibroblast activity drives the transition to fibrotic scar tissue formation. As such, disrupting myofibroblast persistence is a key therapeutic target. While myofibroblasts are typically defined by the presence of alphaSMA+ stress fibers, alphaSMA is expressed in other cell types including the vasculature. As such, modulation of myofibroblast dynamics via disruption of alphaSMA expression is not a translationally tenable approach. Recent work has demonstrated that Periostin-lineage (Postn(Lin)) cells are a precursor for cardiac fibrosis-associated myofibroblasts. In contrast to this, here we show that Postn(Lin) cells contribute to a transient alphaSMA+ myofibroblast population that is required for functional tendon healing, and that Periostin forms a supportive matrix niche that facilitates myofibroblast differentiation and persistence. Collectively, these data identify the Periostin matrix niche as a critical regulator of myofibroblast fate and persistence that could be targeted for therapeutic manipulation to facilitate regenerative tendon healing. |
