Researchers have identified a stem cell that may act as a common origin for tendon and ligament cells across the body. In a study described by ScienceDaily, the cells were found to become unusually active in lumbar spinal stenosis, a condition in which thickened ligaments squeeze spinal nerves and cause pain.
Normally, these stem cells likely help maintain tendons and ligaments. But in spinal stenosis, their activity appears to contribute to the ligament overgrowth that narrows the spinal canal. The authors describe the cells as a possible master source for these tissues, and say their abnormal behavior may be a driver of the disease process.
Because the findings are described as suggestive rather than conclusive, the stem cells are not yet a proven treatment target. Still, the discovery gives researchers a new cellular explanation for why ligaments overgrow in spinal stenosis, and a direction for studying therapies that might curb their activity.