Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) >

2025 , Vol. 45 >Issue 8: 1053 - 1058

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2025.08.013

Review

Application of single-cell RNA sequencing in bone regeneration

  • HUANG Zihan ,
  • HUANG Xinzhi
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  • 1.College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200011, China
    2.Experimental Teaching Center of Basic Medical Science, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
HUANG Xinzhi, E-mail: jyhuangxz@shsmu.edu.cn.

Received date: 2025-02-28

  Accepted date: 2025-07-18

  Online published: 2025-08-28

Supported by

The 18th Innovation Training Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(1824504)

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Abstract

Bone regeneration is pivotal for restoring bone homeostasis, involving the coordinated collaboration of diverse cell types in a complex and heterogeneous process. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms at each stage to develop novel bone regeneration strategies represents a key direction in this field. Traditional high-throughput sequencing examines bulk transcriptomes, losing cellular-level resolution. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology enables the analysis of subpopulation heterogeneity by revealing RNA expression profiles at the single-cell level. Based on single-cell atlases, researchers can further employ specific algorithms to simulate cellular differentiation trajectories, facilitating more profound mechanistic investigations. Utilizing this technology, critical cell subpopulations involved in long bone and craniofacial bone regeneration have been identified, characteristic cellular markers and potential diagnostic indicators have been defined, regenerative differences under inflammatory or aging conditions have been compared, the osteogenic mechanisms involved in guided bone regeneration procedures have been explored, and the differential bone-promoting effects of various biomaterials have been revealed. This review summarizes the applications of scRNA-seq in long bone and craniofacial bone regeneration, as well as in bone tissue engineering. It highlights its contributions in deciphering cellular heterogeneity, gene regulation, and microenvironmental interactions, consolidates key cell subpopulations and their functions identified through sequencing, and discusses current research limitations. Furthermore, it outlines future prospects for this technology in bone regeneration research, offering new perspectives for subsequent studies.

Key words： single-cell RNA sequencing; bone regeneration; craniofacial bones; bone tissue engineering

Cite this article

HUANG Zihan , HUANG Xinzhi . Application of single-cell RNA sequencing in bone regeneration[J]. Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science), 2025 , 45(8) : 1053 -1058 . DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2025.08.013

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