On June 14th, Kevin Wang presented his abstract “The Influence of Age on Cellular Senescence in Injured versus Healthy Muscle and Its Implications on Rotator Cuff Injuries” at The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) Fellows' Day Podium. At this symposium, Kevin received the Robert H. Cofield, MD, Award for Best Oral Presentation, which is awarded to the highest rated presentation.

Working with Justin Lau, he explored scRNAseq dataset to understand how age impacts the risk of rotator cuff tears and affects the success of repair surgery. The reasons for these age-related issues aren't well understood, which is important as the population ages and stays active. While poor tendon quality and weak bones are possible reasons, looking at cellular differences is crucial. There’s growing interest in using biologics (like special treatments) in rotator cuff surgery. Still, to use them effectively, Justin and Kevin needed to understand the basic science behind age-related changes. One key area they focused on is fibro adipogenic progenitor cells, which help muscle repair after surgery but can also cause muscle problems through fat buildup and scarring.                            

After testing on six patients of various ages, they found more senescent cells in injured FAPs, which worsened with age. An accumulation of senescent cells was also seen in muscle satellite cells. These results have left Justin and Kevin with more questions, so their future research will focus on the characterization of markers in senescence in satellite cells, and if there are more senescent cells in fibrogenic vs adipogenic vs myocyte stimulating lineages. 

Congratulations to Justin and Kevin!