Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 12, 2026
08:32
Engineering Tendon Assembloids to Probe Cellular Crosstalk in Disease and Repair
Published on: March 22, 2024
Extracellular matrix microarchitecture modulates cellular behavior and extracellular vesicle phenotypes in biomimetic
Kariman A Shama1, Zachary F Greenberg2, Evangeline M Meyler1
1J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Florida Gainesville Florida USA.
Bioengineering & Translational Medicine
|June 11, 2026
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from diseased tendon models promote fibrosis by carrying specific proteins. Understanding these EVs offers potential for diagnosing and treating tendinopathy.
Area of Science:
- Musculoskeletal biology
- Cell biology
- Biomaterials science
Background:
- Tendon disease involves extracellular matrix (ECM) disorganization and fibroblast activation, leading to fibrosis and impaired function.
- Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are implicated in fibrosis but their role in tendon pathology is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate EV-mediated contributions to tendon remodeling using a novel 3D in vitro model.
- To characterize EVs derived from healthy and fibrotic tendon microenvironments.
Main Methods:
- Developed a 3D in vitro model mimicking healthy and fibrotic tendon microenvironments.
- Cultured primary tendon-derived cells on diseased scaffolds.
- Performed proteomic profiling of extracellular vesicles (EVs).
Main Results:
- Diseased tendon cells showed increased proliferation, altered ECM protein expression, and poor alignment.
- EVs from diseased models were enriched in proteins promoting matrix remodeling, fibroblast activation, and inflammation (e.g., VIM, ANXA2, MMP2, INHBA).
- EVs from healthy models contained proteins related to metabolic homeostasis and lipid transport (e.g., APOA2, CKM).
Conclusions:
- The 3D tendon model effectively captures tendon pathology progression and EV dynamics.
- EVs are sensitive indicators of microenvironmental state and potential mediators of fibrotic tendon disease.
- Findings provide a basis for exploring diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting EVs in tendinopathy.
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