Elucidating gene regulatory networks underlying human skeletal development

Although the skeleton is essential for locomotion, endocrine functions and hematopoiesis, the molecular mechanisms of human skeletal development remain to be elucidated. Here, we established an integrative method to model human skeletal development by combining in vitro sclerotome induction from human pluripotent stem cells and in vivo endochondral bone formation by implanting the sclerotome beneath the renal capsules of immunodeficient mice. By using single-cell analyses, such as scRNA-seq and scMultiome, we aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanisms regulating human skeletal development.