Tendon tissue engineering : An overview of biologics to promote tendon healing and repair

Funding Information: The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The authors acknowledge operating grant support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 955685, www.helsinki.fi/p4fit .Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Endotenon-Derived Type II Tendon Stem Cells Have Enhanced Proliferative and Tenogenic Potential

Funding This project received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement, No. 955685. This research also received funding support from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Centre for Doctoral Training in Regenerative Medicine (EP/L015072/1).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Allo Beta Cell transplantation: specific features, unanswered questions, and immunological challenge

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) presents a persistent medical challenge, demanding innovative strategies for sustained glycemic control and enhanced patient well-being. Beta cells are specialized cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. When beta cells are damaged or destroyed, insulin production decreases, which leads to T1D. Allo Beta Cell Transplantation has emerged as a promising therapeutic avenue, with the goal of reinstating glucose regulation and insulin production in T1D patients. However, the path to success in this approach is fraught with complex immunological hurdles that demand rigorous exploration and resolution for enduring therapeutic efficacy. This exploration focuses on the distinct immunological characteristics inherent to Allo Beta Cell Transplantation. An understanding of these unique challenges is pivotal for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. The critical role of glucose regulation and insulin in immune activation is emphasized, with an emphasis on the intricate interplay between beta cells and immune cells. The transplantation site, particularly the liver, is examined in depth, highlighting its relevance in the context of complex immunological issues. Scrutiny extends to recipient and donor matching, including the utilization of multiple islet donors, while also considering the potential risk of autoimmune recurrence. Moreover, unanswered questions and persistent gaps in knowledge within the field are identified. These include the absence of robust evidence supporting immunosuppression treatments, the need for reliable methods to assess rejection and treatment protocols, the lack of validated biomarkers for monitoring beta cell loss, and the imperative need for improved beta cell imaging techniques. In addition, attention is drawn to emerging directions and transformative strategies in the field. This encompasses alternative immunosuppressive regimens and calcineurin-free immunoprotocols, as well as a reevaluation of induction therapy and recipient preconditioning methods. Innovative approaches targeting autoimmune recurrence, such as CAR Tregs and TCR Tregs, are explored, along with the potential of stem stealth cells, tissue engineering, and encapsulation to overcome the risk of graft rejection. In summary, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the inherent immunological obstacles associated with Allo Beta Cell Transplantation. It offers valuable insights into emerging strategies and directions that hold great promise for advancing the field and ultimately improving outcomes for individuals living with diabetes

Tendon tissue engineering: An overview of biologics to promote tendon healing and repair

Tendons are dense connective tissues with a hierarchical polarized structure that respond to and adapt to the transmission of muscle contraction forces to the skeleton, enabling motion and maintaining posture. Tendon injuries, also known as tendinopathies, are becoming more common as populations age and participation in sports/leisure activities increases. The tendon has a poor ability to self-heal and regenerate given its intrinsic, constrained vascular supply and exposure to frequent, severe loading. There is a lack of understanding of the underlying pathophysiology, and it is not surprising that disorder-targeted medicines have only been partially effective at best. Recent tissue engineering approaches have emerged as a potential tool to drive tendon regeneration and healing. In this review, we investigated the physiochemical factors involved in tendon ontogeny and discussed their potential application in vitro to reproduce functional and self-renewing tendon tissue. We sought to understand whether stem cells are capable of forming tendons, how they can be directed towards the tenogenic lineage, and how their growth is regulated and monitored during the entire differentiation path. Finally, we showed recent developments in tendon tissue engineering, specifically the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), which can differentiate into tendon cells, as well as the potential role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in tendon regeneration and their potential for use in accelerating the healing response after injury