Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Cells Transduced with Scleraxis Improve Rotator Cuff Healing in a Rat Model

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff repair surgery depends on tendon-bone healing that results in scar formation which is weaker than normal tissue(1). The formation of scar tissue makes repairs prone to failure. Biologic therapies may be able to improve healing by limiting the amount of scar formation and promoting formation of the normal fibrocartilagenous transition zone. Previous work in our laboratory showed that the addition of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) alone are inadequate to improve healing(2). Based on these findings, it is postulated that MSCs need a signal in order to induce differentiation. However, the method by which this signal is delivered remains problematic.