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World J Stem Cells. Apr 26, 2026; 18(4): 115218
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i4.115218
Published online Apr 26, 2026. doi: 10.4252/wjsc.v18.i4.115218
WTAP-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification of circ_PVT1 promotes proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells
Yu Chen, Xu Hu, Ren-Zhi Gao, Shi-Guo Zhou, Department of Orthopedics, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China
Xiao-Tian Jia, Quan-Shan Hou, Department of Orthopedics, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture People’s Hospital, Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture 831100, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China
Co-first authors: Yu Chen and Xu Hu.
Co-corresponding authors: Quan-Shan Hou and Shi-Guo Zhou.
Author contributions: Chen Y and Hu X contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors. Chen Y, Hu X, and Zhou SG designed and supervised the study; Chen Y, Jia XT, and Hou QS conducted the experiments and drafted the manuscript; Chen Y, Gao RZ, and Hou QS collected and analyzed the data; Hu X and Jia XT contributed the methodology; Chen Y, Hu X, and Zhou SG operated the software and edited the manuscript; Hou QS and Zhou SG contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-corresponding authors. All authors reviewed the manuscript.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, No. 2024J011037.
Institutional animal care and use committee statement: The protocol for the animal experiment was reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee of Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital for experimental animal welfare, approval No. IACUC-FPH-SL-20240321[0219].
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
ARRIVE guidelines statement: The authors have read the ARRIVE guidelines, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the ARRIVE guidelines.
Data sharing statement: Data will be made available upon reasonable request.
Corresponding author: Shi-Guo Zhou, MD, Department of Orthopedics, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou University Affiliated Provincial Hospital, No. 134 East Street, Fuzhou 350001, Fujian Province, China.
Received: October 31, 2025
Revised: December 14, 2025
Accepted: February 24, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 170 Days and 23.9 Hours
Revised: December 14, 2025
Accepted: February 24, 2026
Published online: April 26, 2026
Processing time: 170 Days and 23.9 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Tendon stem/progenitor cells share common characteristics with stem cells, such as proliferation, pluripotency, and self-renewal ability. Under suitable conditions, they can differentiate into tendon cells and play a crucial role in maintaining the stability of tendons and in repair after injury. We found that circular RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 deficiency could inhibit tenogenic differentiation. In addition, WTAP-mediated N6-methyladenosine modification of circular RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 promotes the proliferation and tenogenic differentiation of tendon stem/progenitor cells. These results suggest a promising therapeutic strategy for tendon diseases.