SYDNEY, July 13 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have mapped the cells and genes that regulate bone formation and loss at an unprecedented scale, a breakthrough that could lead to new therapies to rebuild lost bone.
The team, led by researchers from Australia and Britain, combined genomic sequencing with data from half a million individuals to identify hundreds of previously unknown genes that govern bone health, according to a statement released by Australia's Garvan Institute of Medical Research on Monday.
Researchers revealed cells surrounding blood vessels as one of the drivers of bone repair, a role that has been underappreciated until now.
The findings fundamentally advance understanding of skeletal disease and could enable new therapies to reverse bone loss, offering hope to almost half of people over 50 with conditions such as osteoporosis, as well as those with rare bone disorders and cancers that spread to bone, the researchers said.
Using single-cell RNA sequencing, the team mapped active genes in bone cells at the bone-marrow interface -- the key site for the formation and breakdown of bone -- identifying 34 cell types and the genes active within them.
By analyzing genetic and bone density from the UK Biobank, the team was able to pinpoint exactly which cells drive skeletal disease. The dataset has been made publicly available to support further research. ■