Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology (Mar 2021)

Inhibition of JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway Alleviates Age-Related Phenotypes in Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells

  • Minhao Chen,
  • Minhao Chen,
  • Minhao Chen,
  • Longfei Xiao,
  • Longfei Xiao,
  • Longfei Xiao,
  • Guangchun Dai,
  • Guangchun Dai,
  • Guangchun Dai,
  • Panpan Lu,
  • Panpan Lu,
  • Panpan Lu,
  • Yuanwei Zhang,
  • Yuanwei Zhang,
  • Yuanwei Zhang,
  • Yingjuan Li,
  • Ming Ni,
  • Yunfeng Rui,
  • Yunfeng Rui,
  • Yunfeng Rui,
  • Yunfeng Rui

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2021.650250
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9

Abstract

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Diminished regeneration or healing capacity of tendon occurs during aging. It has been well demonstrated that tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) play a vital role in tendon maintenance and repair. Here, we identified an accumulation of senescent TSPCs in tendon tissue with aging. In aged TSPCs, the activity of JAK-STAT signaling pathway was increased. Besides, genetic knockdown of JAK2 or STAT3 significantly attenuated TSPC senescence in aged TSPCs. Pharmacological inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling pathway with AG490 similarly attenuated cellular senescence and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of aged TSPCs. In addition, inhibition of JAK-STAT signaling pathway also restored the age-related dysfunctions of TSPCs, including self-renewal, migration, actin dynamics, and stemness. Together, our findings reveal the critical role of JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the regulation of TSPC aging and suggest an ideal therapeutic target for the age-related tendon disorders.

Keywords