ArticleActa biomaterialia2021
Structure-function specialisation of the interfascicular matrix in the human achilles tendon.
Article in Acta biomaterialia, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 25 citations in OpenAlex.
- Investigation of the effects of acrylamide on tendon healing in rats.Acta orthopaedica et traumatologica turcica · 2026Article
- Exploration on the influence of menstrual cycle phase on biceps brachii tendon mechanics.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- The cellular basis of fibrotic tendon healing: now in higher definition.American journal of physiology. Cell physiology · 2026Review
- Rapamycin reduces peritendinous fibrosis but has a limited effect on intratendinous healing in a rodent Achilles tendon injury model.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Imaging the mechanical properties of a developing embryonic tendon using Brillouin microscopy.Acta biomaterialia · 2025Article
- Current cutting-edge omics techniques on musculoskeletal tissues and diseases.Bone research · 2025Review
- Achilles tendinopathy.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2025Review
- Tendon mechanobiology in the context of tendon biofabrication.Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2025Review
- Predictive ability of Achilles tendon elastography for frailty in older adults.European geriatric medicine · 2024Article
- The Interfascicular Matrix of Energy Storing Tendons Houses Heterogenous Cell Populations Disproportionately Affected by Aging.Aging and disease · 2024Article
- LeveragingFrontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology · 2024Review
- Guidelines for ex vivo mechanical testing of tendon.Journal of orthopaedic research : official publication of the Orthopaedic Research Society · 2023Review
- Equine tendon mechanical behaviour: Prospects for repair and regeneration applications.Veterinary medicine and science · 2023Review
- Mild hypercholesterolemia impacts achilles sub-tendon mechanical properties in young rats.BMC musculoskeletal disorders · 2023Article
- The impact of age-related increase in passive muscle stiffness on simulated upper limb reaching.Royal Society open science · 2023Article
- Tendon healing: a concise review on cellular and molecular mechanisms with a particular focus on the Achilles tendon.Bone & joint research · 2022Article
- Method development and characterization of chick embryo tendon mechanical properties.Journal of biomechanics · 2022Article
- CD146 Delineates an Interfascicular Cell Sub-Population in Tendon That Is Recruited during Injury through Its Ligand Laminin-α4.International journal of molecular sciences · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Tendon consists of highly aligned collagen-rich fascicles surrounded by interfascicular matrix (IFM). Some tendons act as energy stores to improve locomotion efficiency, but such tendons commonly obtain debilitating injuries. In equine tendons, energy storing is achieved primarily through specialisation of the IFM. However, no studies have investigated IFM structure-function specialisation in human tendons. Here, we compare the human positional anterior tibial tendon and energy storing Achilles tendons, testing the hypothesis that the Achilles tendon IFM has specialised composition and mechanical properties, which are lost with ageing. Data demonstrate IFM specialisation in the energy storing Achilles, with greater elasticity and fatigue resistance than in the positional anterior tibial tendon. With ageing, alterations occur predominantly to the proteome of the Achilles IFM, which are likely responsible for the observed trends towards decreased fatigue resistance. Knowledge of these key energy storing specialisations and their changes with ageing offers crucial insight towards developing treatments for tendinopathy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Developing effective therapeutics or preventative measures for tendon injury necessitates the understanding of healthy tendon function and mechanics. By establishing structure-function relationships in human tendon and determining how these are affected by ageing, potential targets for therapeutics can be identified. In this study, we have used a combination of mechanical testing, immunolabelling and proteomics analysis to study structure-function specialisations in human tendon. We demonstrate that the interfascicular matrix is specialised for energy storing in the Achilles tendon, and that its proteome is altered with ageing, which is likely responsible for the observed trends towards decreased fatigue resistance. Knowledge of these key energy storing specialisations and their changes with ageing offers crucial insight towards developing treatments and preventative approaches for tendinopathy.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.