Tendon injuries are a worldwide problem affecting several age groups and stem cell based therapies hold potential for tendon strategies guiding tendon regeneration.

Tendons rely on mechano-sensing mechanisms that regulate homeostasis and influence regeneration. The mechanosensitive receptors available in cell membranes sense the external stimuli and initiate mechanotransduction processes. Activins are members of the TGF-β superfamily which participate in several tendon biological processes. It is envisioned that the activation of the activin receptor, trigger downstream Smad2/3 pathway thus regulating the transcription of tenogenic genes driving stem cell differentiation.