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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Sep 10.
Published in final edited form as: Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2009 Apr 13;19(4):536–546. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.00909.x

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

Proposed model showing the role of ECM proteoglycans bgn and fmod in controlling the fate of tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPC). In this model Bgn and Fmod bind to growth factors such as BMP. This growth factor binding is lost when bgn or fmod is depleted and can affect the differentiation fate of TSPC by stimulating the BMP signalling pathway. In this model, the increased BMP activity causes TSPC to differentiate into osteoblasts and form bone. The normal ECM-rich niche controls this BMP activity so that TSPC can differentiate into tenocytes that form tendon. Forced treadmill exercise can either increase or decrease the differentiation of TSPC towards bone or tendon in a mechanism depending on the exercise regime.