Dynamic Molecular Profiles of Bone Marrow-Derived Osteoblasts at the Single-Cell Level

Abstract

Osteogenesis is an important process of bone metabolism, and abnormal osteogenesis leads to various skeletal system diseases. Osteoblasts, the main cells involved in bone formation, are central elements in the study of bone metabolic diseases. Single-cell RNA sequencing is an important tool for studying the transcriptome of cells and can help to elucidate various cellular and molecular functions at the single-cell level, providing new avenues for life science research. Here we explore the heterogeneity of osteoblasts and try to reveal the developmental trajectory of osteoblasts, thereby contributing to efforts to describe the mechanism of osteogenesis. In this study, single-cell sequencing data of murine bone marrow cells were used to identify osteoblasts. Finally, osteoblasts were divided into four groups, each differing in characteristic genes and signal path­ways. We also identify clues of the changes of some genes in the process of osteoclast formation, providing directions for further study. Collectively, our findings suggest that bone marrow osteoblasts can be divided into several subgroups, which represent different stages of cells, and that the specific genes of each subgroup respond to the molecular mechanisms of cell development. This data will likely be of great help in resolving diseases of the skeletal system.