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Updated: May 31, 2026

Engineering Tendon Assembloids to Probe Cellular Crosstalk in Disease and Repair

Engineering Tendon Assembloids to Probe Cellular Crosstalk in Disease and Repair

Published on: March 22, 2024

SPARC in Musculoskeletal Tissues: Linking Matrix Assembly to Disease.

Nevra Pelin Cesur¹, Andrea Wagner¹, Herbert Tempfer¹

¹Institute of Tendon and Bone Regeneration, Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria; Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Vienna, Austria.

Matrix Biology : Journal of the International Society for Matrix Biology

|May 28, 2026

Summary

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC) is a key regulator of extracellular matrix interactions in musculoskeletal tissues. This review explores SPARC

Keywords:

SPARC extracellular matrix matricellular protein musculoskeletal tissue tissue homeostasis

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A Rapid, Scalable Method for the Isolation, Functional Study, and Analysis of Cell-derived Extracellular Matrix

A Rapid, Scalable Method for the Isolation, Functional Study, and Analysis of Cell-derived Extracellular Matrix

Published on: January 4, 2017

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Cell Biology
Tissue Engineering

Background:

Secreted Protein Acidic and Rich in Cysteine (SPARC), also known as osteonectin, is a matricellular protein.
SPARC regulates cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, collagen fibrillogenesis, and tissue remodeling.
It plays crucial roles in musculoskeletal tissues, including bone, cartilage, and muscle.

Purpose of the Study:

To summarize the structural features and biological functions of SPARC.
To emphasize SPARC's roles in skeletal and connective tissues.
To discuss SPARC's contribution to ECM assembly and cell-matrix interactions.

Main Methods:

This is a review article, synthesizing existing research.
Literature search and analysis of studies on SPARC.
Focus on musculoskeletal tissues and ECM regulation.

Main Results:

SPARC is essential for organizing ECM architecture and maintaining mechanical integrity in musculoskeletal tissues.
SPARC links ECM organization to intracellular signaling and metabolic pathways.
Emerging evidence links SPARC to tissue degeneration, inflammation, and aging.

Conclusions:

SPARC is a critical regulator of musculoskeletal tissue homeostasis and adaptation.
SPARC has potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target for musculoskeletal diseases.
Further research is needed to fully elucidate SPARC's complex roles.