James H-C. Wang

James H-C. Wang is a Chinese American orthopedic biomechanist and academic. Currently, he is a Professor at the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery, Bioengineering, and PM&R at the University of Pittsburgh. In addition, he is a Faculty Member at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Wang is most known for his work on tissue biomechanics, tissue engineering, and cell mechanobiology.

Wang is a Fellow of the International Orthopaedic Research (FIOR), and American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE).

Education Wang completed his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Mechanics in 1982 and Master of Science in Experimental Biomechanics in 1989 from Tongji University. Later in 1996, he obtained PhD in Bioengineering from the University of Cincinnati in the US.

Wang's research team has also worked on the identification and characterization of tendon stem cells (TSCs) in humans, mice, rats, and rabbits. Wang's tendon stem cell research has focused on the effects of different mechanical loading conditions on TSC growth and differentiation. Focusing on TSCs, his work highlighted the role of TSC mechanobiology in tendon homeostasis as well as the development of degenerative tendinopathy. His group showed that in normal conditions, the multi-differentiation potential of TSCs allows these stem cells to differentiate into tenocytes; however, under high stress and injurious conditions TSCs can undergo aberrant differentiation into adipocytes, chondrocytes, and osteocytes. Wang's team has established the beneficial effects of modest exercise on tendons via moderate treadmill running by the virtue of its effect in enhancing the function of TSCs resulting in the formation of normal-like tendon tissue at the site of injury. In their examination of treatment options for tendon injuries, his group has provided insights into the application of biologics such as PRP for the effective treatment of tendon injuries.

Wang also focuses his research on tissue engineering. His approach to regenerate tendons after injury includes the use of PRP. His group showed that PRP with minimal leukocytes, known as pure-PRP (P-PRP), induces TSC differentiation into active tenocytes. These tenocytes produce abundant collagens, enabling P-PRP to effectively repair tendon injuries. His team demonstrated that the combined application of kartogenin and PRP effectively enhanced the formation of a fibrocartilage region connecting the tendon graft and bone interface, thereby improving the biomechanical strength of the tendon-bone junction.

Awards and honors 1990 – Award of Science and Technology, Tongji University 2001 – Hulda Irene Duggan Arthritis Investigator 2020 – J. Leonard Goldner Award, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society

Selected articles Wang, JH-C. Substrate deformation determines actin cytoskeleton reorganization: A mathematical modeling and experimental study. J theor Biol. 202: 33–41, 2000. Wang, JH-C.; Goldschmidt-Clermont, P.; Yin, FC-P. Contractility and reactive oxygen species affect actin cytoskeleton remodeling of the endothelial cell to mechanical stretching. Ann Biomed Eng 28: 1165–1171, 2000. Wang, JH-C.; Jia, F.; Gilbert, TW.; Woo, SL-Y. Cell orientation determines the alignment of cell-produced collagenous matrix. J Biomech 36:97–102, 2003. Wang, JH-C. Mechanobiology of tendon, J Biomech. 39:1563–1582, 2006. Wang, JH-C.; Thampatty, B.P. An introductory review of cell mechanobiology, Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 1–16, 2006. Li, F.; Wang, JH-C.; Wang, Q.M. Monitoring cell adhesion by using thickness shear mode acoustic wave sensors. Biosensors and Bioelectronics 23(1): 42–50, 2007 Zhang, J.; Wang, JH-C. Characterization of differential properties of rabbit tendon stem cells and tenocytes. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 11:10, 2010. Zhang, J.; Wang, JH-C. Platelet-rich plasma releasate promotes differentiation of tendon stem cells into active tenocytes. Am J Sports Med 38: 2477–2486, 2010. Zhang, J.; Middleton, K.K.; Fu, F.H.; Im, H-J.; Wang, JH-C. HGF mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of PRP on injured tendons. PloS ONE 8(6): e67303, 2013.