The first single cell map of human intervertebral discs is released to provide clues to degenerative disc diseases

Science and Technology Daily (correspondent Wang Yixuan, reporter Yong Li) Recently, the first single cell map of human intervertebral discs drawn by Chinese scientists was published as a cover paper in the journal Bone Research
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This study is the first systematic study on the heterogeneity of human intervertebral disc cells in the world, and aims to provide important clues for the prevention and treatment of degenerative disc diseases

It is understood that the Liu Peng research group of the Orthopaedics Department of the Army Special Medical Center (Daping Hospital) of the Army Military Medical University, in conjunction with the Liu Bing research group of the Fifth Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital, and with the support of the Chen Lin research group of the Army Special Medical Center (Daping Hospital), lasted for a long time.
In the past two years, the human intervertebral disc single cell map was drawn for the first time, spatially analyzed the cell heterogeneity and the key molecular events that maintain intervertebral disc homeostasis, and updated the understanding and understanding of human intervertebral discs at the single-cell level.
From the transcriptome And functionally identified a new group of nucleus pulposus progenitor cells (NPPC)
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Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is the main cause of neck and shoulder pain and low back and leg pain, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients and causes a heavy burden on the family and society
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To this end, scientists continue to explore the physiology and pathology of the intervertebral disc, and seek innovative treatment methods to rebuild the homeostasis of the intervertebral disc

Previous studies have found that human intervertebral discs have cellular heterogeneity, which is potentially related to their physiological and pathological events
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For example, intervertebral disc stem cells may play a key role in the development, injury, and repair of intervertebral discs

After the scientific research team explored a method for separating human intervertebral disc single cells, healthy intervertebral discs were collected from the research population aged 13-31, and nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus and endplate tissues were separated from them, and high-throughput single-cell transcriptome sequencing was performed respectively; The cells of the nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus and endplate tissues of the intervertebral discs were sequenced and analyzed by single-cell transcriptomes, and a single-cell map of human intervertebral discs was systematically drawn
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By analyzing this map, the research team has made four core discoveries
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Namely: Analyzed the cell heterogeneity of the intervertebral disc and found 9 types of cell subgroups, which broke through the traditional understanding of the single composition of the intervertebral disc cells; identified a variety of chondrocyte subgroups with different functions, and based on the differences in the regulation characteristics of the extracellular matrix, Redefined as regulatory, steady-state and effector chondrocytes; discovered a group of nucleus pulposus progenitor cells specifically expressing PDGFRA and PROCR, which have stem characteristics such as colony formation and triline differentiation, and have strong regenerative potential; built intervertebral discs Cell interaction signal regulation network, found that a variety of growth factor-related signal pathways jointly participate in the maintenance of microenvironment homeostasis

Liu Peng introduced that the human intervertebral disc single cell atlas will provide an important resource library for in-depth research in the field of intervertebral discs, lay a foundation for in-depth analysis of the physiology and pathological mechanisms of intervertebral discs, and provide important clues for the biological treatment of degenerative disc diseases