Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE18647: Gene expression in embryonic intervertebral disc and vertebrae. GSE18648: TGF-beta and BMP mediated gene expression in cultured sclerotome. Refer to individual Series
Project description:Intervertebral disc (IVD) performs as a fibrocartilaginous joint to anchor adjacent vertebrae (VB) and is essential for the mechanical stabilization of axial skeleton. Although several studies have demonstrated the cellular heterogeneity of adult mature IVD, a single-cell transcriptomic atlas mapping early IVD formation is still lacking. Here, we generated the first spatiotemporal and single-cell based transcriptomic atlas of human IVD formation at embryonic stage, as well as a comparative mouse transcript landscape. The notochord (NC)/nucleus pulposus (NP) cells, vertebral chondrocytes, and annulus fibrosus (AF) cells were characterized. Our single-cell transcriptomic atlas that resolves spatiotemporally regulated cellular heterogeneity underlying early IVD development will be leveraged to develop preventative and regenerative strategies for IVD degeneration.
Project description:Our studies show that TonEBP-deficiency causes pronounced degeneration of all three intervertebral disc compartments with greater incidence of herniation in the mouse. The disc phenotype is marked by extracellular matrix remodeling, actin cytoskeleton rearrangements, and suppressed proinflammatory gene expression, advancing our understanding of the contributions of TonEBP in intervertebral disc homeostasis and disease. We used microarray to explore the transcriptomics of differentially expressed genes of annulus fibrosus (AF) and nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue in TonEBP haploinsufficient mice on a C57BL/6 background.