Control of osteocyte dendrite formation by Sp7 and its target gene osteocrin [scRNA-Seq]

Some cuboidal osteoblasts differentiate into bone-embedded, dendrite-bearing osteocytes through the poorly-understood process of osteocytogenesis. Here, we report that the transcription factor Sp7 plays an essential role in osteocytogenesis. Severe defects in bone integrity and osteocyte dendrite morphology are noted in mice lacking Sp7 at the stage of the osteoblast-to-osteocyte transition. In osteocytes, Sp7 controls expression of a neuronally-enriched gene network. Analysis of the osteocyte-specific Sp7 cistrome reveals distinct genomic binding motifs and target sites distinct from those in osteoblasts. Amongst osteocyte-specific Sp7 targets, the secreted peptide osteocrin rescues Sp7-deficient defects. Single-cell transcriptional profiling of cells undergoing osteocytogenesis identifies novel Sp7-dependent transitional cell types enriched in genes linked to human fracture risk. Finally, humans with an SP7 R316C mutation display osteocyte morphology defects similar to those observed in mouse models. These findings demonstrate that cuboidal osteoblasts use a neuronally-enriched Sp7/osteocrin gene expression program to differentiate into dendrite-bearing osteocytes. Overall design: Using single-cell RNA-seq to identify discrete populations of cells undergoing the osteoblast-to-osteocyte transition, and dramatic defects in this normal process in the absence of Sp7.