Journal Article

Requirement of Pdgfrα+ cells for calvarial bone repair

Li, Zhao, Thottappillil, Neelima, James, Aaron W, Xu, Jiajia, Xing, Xin, Archer, Mary, Chen, Austin Z, Zhou, Myles, Xu, Mingxin, Wang, Yiyun, Qin, Qizhi, Zhu, Manyu, Wang, Ziyi

2024

Overview

Abstract Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) is often considered as a general marker of mesenchymal cells and fibroblasts, but also shows expression in a portion of osteoprogenitor cells. Within the skeleton, Pdgfrα+ mesenchymal cells have been identified in bone marrow and periosteum of long bones, where they play a crucial role in participating in fracture repair. A similar examination of Pdgfrα+ cells in calvarial bone healing has not been examined. Here, we utilize Pdgfrα-CreERTM;mT/mG reporter animals to examine the contribution of Pdgfrα+ mesenchymal cells to calvarial bone repair through histology and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq). Results showed that Pdgfrα+ mesenchymal cells are present in several cell clusters by scRNA-Seq, and by histology a dramatic increase in Pdgfrα+ cells populated the defect site at early timepoints to give rise to healed bone tissue overtime. Notably, diphtheria toxin-mediated ablation of Pdgfrα reporter+ cells resulted in significantly impaired calvarial bone healing. Our findings suggest that Pdgfrα-expressing cells within the calvarial niche play a critical role in the process of calvarial bone repair. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Animals / Bone growth / Bone healing / Bone Regeneration - physiology / Diphtheria / Diphtheria toxin / Histology / Long bone / Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology / Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism / Mesenchyme / Mice / Osteoprogenitor cells / Periosteum / Platelet-derived growth factor / Platelet-derived growth factor receptors / Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor alpha - metabolism / Skeleton / Skull - injuries / Skull - metabolism