A Single-cell Transcriptomic Atlas of Human Intervertebral Disc

Using high-precision transcriptomics to systematically map the atlas of human intervertebral disc (IVD) at single-cell resolution. Consequently, we found remarkable cellular diversity in the human IVD and identified a set of signature markers to recognize the cell types spatially. Furthermore, we deciphered a biological classification of chondrocyte subclusters with distinct role in the ECM homeostasis.Notably, the critical clues were also discovered for progenitor cells with bi-lineage differentiation trajectories in the nucleus pulposus, which discriminatively marked by the ancestry molecules PDGFRA and PROCR and highly enriched PDGF network. Finally, we uncovered the potential vital factors maintaining the IVD homeostasis from the intercellular crosstalk based on the signaling network landscape of the IVD microenvironment. Overall design: Single-cell sequencing of 91,295 IVD cells from 3 nucleus pulposus, 2 cartilage endplate and 2 annulus fibrosus in IVD using the 10X genomics Kit.