Single-cell transcriptomics reveals heterogeneity and intercellular crosstalk in human intervertebral disc degeneration

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106692
• Publication Date: 2023-04-19T15:45:52Z
• Authors: Dandan Wang; ZiZhang Li; Weimin Huang; Shengnan Cao; Liangyu Xie; Yuanzhen Chen; Huazhong Li; Lei Wang; Xiaoshu Chen; Jian-Rong Yang
• Keywords: Crosstalk; Intervertebral Disc; Degeneration (medical)

The complexity of the human intervertebral disc (IVD) has hindered elucidation microenvironment and mechanisms underlying IVD degeneration (IVDD). Here we determined landscapes nucleus pulposus (NP), annulus fibrosus (AF), immunocytes in by scRNA-seq. Six NP subclusters seven AF were identified, whose functional differences distribution during different stages (Pfirrmann I-V) investigated. We found MCAM+ progenitor AF, as well CD24+ MKI67+ NP, forming a lineage trajectory from CD24+/MKI67+ progenitors to EffectorNP_⅓ IVDD. There is significant increase monocyte/macrophage (Mφ) degenerated IVDs (p = 0.044), with Mφ-SPP1 exclusively IVDD but not healthy IVDs. Further analyses intercellular crosstalk network revealed interactions between major subpopulations changes Our results elucidated unique characteristics IVDD, thereby shedding light on therapeutic strategies.