Tenomodulin subpopulation of human adipose stem cells as a promising source of tendon progenitor cells

Cell based strategies envision promising insights for tendon therapies due to the naturally limited cellularity and regeneration of these tissues. Human stem cells from the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue (hASCs) have shown their tenogenic potential for tendon strategies[1]. However, the heterogeneous populations within the hASCs pool may hinder their use in specific applications. Tenomodulin (TNMD) has been recognized as an important marker of tendon progenitor cells[2], thus herein we hypothesized that TNMD positive (TNMD+) cells are more prone to differentiate into tendon-like cells.