Scleraxis-Lineage Cells Are Required for Tendon Homeostasis and Their Depletion Induces an Accelerated Extracellular Matrix Aging Phenotype

Scientists developed a novel model of accelerated tendon ECM aging via depletion of Scleraxis-lineage cells in young mice (Scx-DTR). Scx-DTR recapitulated many aspects of tendon aging including comparable declines in cellularity, alterations in ECM structure, organization, and composition.