SOX9 and disease of the tendon: Taken together, the upregulated osteo-chondrogenesis and downregulated tenogenic differentiation potential of TDSCs in DM tendons might be contributed to the increased expression of OPN, OCN, Col II, and SOX9 and decreased expression of Col I and TNMD in diabetes tendons with IHC staining and further resulted in the decreased mechanical properties and degenerative changes, even characteristic tendinopathy alternations in DM tendons.