Gli1 identifies osteogenic progenitors for bone formation and fracture repair.

ABSTRACT: Bone formation in mammals requires continuous production of osteoblasts throughout life. A common molecular marker for all osteogenic mesenchymal progenitors has not been identified. Here, by lineage-tracing experiments in fetal or postnatal mice, we discover that Gli1⁺ cells progressively produce osteoblasts in all skeletal sites. Most notably, in postnatal growing mice, the Gli1⁺ cells residing immediately beneath the growth plate, termed here "metaphyseal mesenchymal progenitors" (MMPs), are essential for cancellous bone formation. Besides osteoblasts, MMPs also give rise to bone marrow adipocytes and stromal cells in vivo. RNA-seq reveals that MMPs express a number of marker genes previously assigned to mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells, including CD146/Mcam, CD44

SUBMITTER: Shi Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5725597 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature