In growing bones of mice, multiple cell types contribute to the osteoblast lineage, including growth plate chondrocytes, perichondrial cells and CXCL12-abundant reticular marrow stromal cells. Here we use single-cell RNA sequencing and lineage tracing to show that all these osteoblast precursors, even postnatally, derives from Sox9-expressing progenitors. We also characterize a distinct group of chondrocytes located between the perichondrium and the columns of growth plate chondrocytes that contribute to the osteoblast lineage.
Keywords: biology; bone modeling and remodeling; cells of bone; chondrocyte and cartilage; chondrocyte and cartilage biology; developmental modeling; growth plate; osteoblasts; stromal/stem cells.
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