IMR Press / FBL / Volume 14 / Issue 13 / DOI: 10.2741/3593

Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark (FBL) is published by IMR Press from Volume 26 Issue 5 (2021). Previous articles were published by another publisher on a subscription basis, and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement with Frontiers in Bioscience.

Article
Neuronal pathways in tendon healing
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1 Orthopedic Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
2 McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Front. Biosci. (Landmark Ed) 2009, 14(13), 5165–5187; https://doi.org/10.2741/3593
Published: 1 June 2009
Abstract

The regulatory mechanisms involved in tendon homeostasis and repair are not fully understood. Accumulating data, however, demonstrate that the nervous system, in addition to afferent (sensory) functions, through efferent neuronal pathways plays an active role in regulating pain, inflammation, and tissue repair processes. Thus, in normal-, healing- and tendinopathic tendons three major neuronal signalling pathways consisting of autonomic, sensory and glutamatergic neuromediators have been established. In healthy tendons, these neural elements are found in the paratenon, whereas the proper tendon is practically devoid of nerves, reflecting that normally tendon homeostasis is regulated by pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators from the tendon surroundings. During tendon repair, however, there is extensive nerve ingrowth into the tendon proper and subsequent time-dependent appearance of sensory, autonomic and glutamatergic mediators, which amplify and fine-tune inflammation and tendon regeneration. In tendinopathy excessive and protracted sensory and glutamatergic signalling may be involved in inflammatory, painful and hypertrophic tissue reactions. In a future perspective, neuronal mediators may prove to be useful in targeted pharmacotherapy and tissue engineering in painful, degenerative and traumatic tendon disorders.

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