<p>Craniofacial bone regeneration remains a major clinical challenge, yet the identity of orofacial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (OMSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on mouse orofacial bone and identified multiple stromal cell clusters. Cell-cell communication mapping and trajectory inference uncovered the heterogeneity of OMSCs and functional divergence among subpopulations. We identified a previously unrecognized population, Smmhc-expressing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), at the earliest stage of the progenitor lineage trajectory. In vivo lineage tracing demonstrated that Smmhc<sup>+</sup> MSCs are multipotent, giving rise to osteoblasts, osteocytes, periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, and dental pulp cells. Targeted ablation of Smmhc<sup>+</sup> MSCs using <i>Smmhc</i><sup><i>CreER</i></sup><i>;iDTR</i> mouse model led to impaired orofacial bone development and disrupted orofacial tissue homeostasis, characterized by reduced osteogenic differentiation and non-cell autonomous reduction of bone resorption. Collectively, this study establishes a cellular atlas of OMSCs and identifies Smmhc<sup>+</sup> MSCs as a functionally indispensable subset for craniofacial bone homeostasis, orchestrating the dynamic balance between osteogenesis and bone resorption within the orofacial skeletal niche.</p>

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Identification of Smmhc-expressing mesenchymal cells in orofacial bone at single-cell resolution

  • Yi Fan,
  • Yali Wei,
  • Zhuoxuan Wu,
  • Qin Huang,
  • Chen Cui,
  • Zucen Li,
  • Ruoshi Xu,
  • Quan Yuan,
  • Chenchen Zhou

摘要

Craniofacial bone regeneration remains a major clinical challenge, yet the identity of orofacial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (OMSCs) has not been fully elucidated. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on mouse orofacial bone and identified multiple stromal cell clusters. Cell-cell communication mapping and trajectory inference uncovered the heterogeneity of OMSCs and functional divergence among subpopulations. We identified a previously unrecognized population, Smmhc-expressing mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), at the earliest stage of the progenitor lineage trajectory. In vivo lineage tracing demonstrated that Smmhc+ MSCs are multipotent, giving rise to osteoblasts, osteocytes, periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, and dental pulp cells. Targeted ablation of Smmhc+ MSCs using SmmhcCreER;iDTR mouse model led to impaired orofacial bone development and disrupted orofacial tissue homeostasis, characterized by reduced osteogenic differentiation and non-cell autonomous reduction of bone resorption. Collectively, this study establishes a cellular atlas of OMSCs and identifies Smmhc+ MSCs as a functionally indispensable subset for craniofacial bone homeostasis, orchestrating the dynamic balance between osteogenesis and bone resorption within the orofacial skeletal niche.