Identification of Periostin as a critical niche for myofibroblast dynamics and fibrosis during tendon healing

Matrix Biol. 2023 Dec 13:S0945-053X(23)00127-0. doi: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.12.004. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTTendon 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 αSMA+ stress fibers, αSMA is expressed in other cell types including the vasculature. As such, modulation of myofibroblast dynamics via disruption of αSMA expression is not a translationally tenable approach. Recent work has demonstrated that Periostin-lineage (PostnLin) cells are a precursor for cardiac fibrosis-associated myofibroblasts. In contrast to this, here we show that PostnLin cells contribute to a transient αSMA+ 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.PMID:38101460 | DOI:10.1016/j.matbio.2023.12.004

Source: Matrix Biology - December 15, 2023 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Jessica E Ackerman Samantha N Muscat Emmanuela Adjei-Sowah Antonion Korcari Anne E C Nichols Mark R Buckley Alayna E Loiselle Source Type: research