Protocol for tendon stem/progenitor cell isolation from human tendon tissue

Tendon stem/progenitor cells (TSPCs) are critical for tendon maintenance and repair, yet standardized approaches for their isolation and characterization remain limited. We present a protocol to isolate TSPCs from human tendons and establish them for in vitro culture. We describe steps for confirming phenotype and potency using a comprehensive marker panel through flow cytometry, qPCR, immunofluorescence, and colorimetric staining. This approach consistently yields a homogeneous TSPC population, enabling reproducible in vitro studies of tendon biology and applications in regenerative therapies.