Wang Qiuyuan, Huang Moli, Guo Jiong Jiong
Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, China.
School of Biology and Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
J Orthop Translat. 2025 May 28;53:1-11. doi: 10.1016/j.jot.2025.05.001. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology hold significant potential for advancing orthopedic research. This review examines the impact of ScRNA-seq on the future development of orthopedic research and practice. In the study of osteoarthritis, scRNA-seq can finely characterize the changes in the subsets of chondrocytes and their role in disease progression. In rheumatoid arthritis, this technique reveals the complex heterogeneity and cell-to-cell interactions between fibroblasts and immune cells. ScRNA-seq offers insights into the heterogeneity of nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and endplate cells, providing a novel perspective on the pathological mechanisms of intervertebral disc degeneration. Single-cell analysis in osteosarcoma research has uncovered the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and mechanisms of immunosuppression. Through these studies, scRNA-seq enhances insights into disease pathogenesis and offers innoviate approaches for precision medicine and personalized treatment strategies.
This article systematically reviews the cellular heterogeneity, molecular mechanisms and immune microenvironment of orthopedic diseases (such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, intervertebral disc degeneration, osteosarcoma) by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), which provides a theoretical basis for accurate diagnosis, new therapeutic target discovery (such as TRPV1, CXCR4) and individualized treatment strategies. The combination of multi-omics and spatial transcriptome technology is expected to accelerate clinical translation and optimize the diagnosis and treatment system of orthopedic diseases.
单细胞RNA测序（scRNA-seq）技术在推进骨科研究方面具有巨大潜力。本综述探讨了scRNA-seq对骨科研究与实践未来发展的影响。在骨关节炎研究中，scRNA-seq能够精确表征软骨细胞亚群的变化及其在疾病进展中的作用。在类风湿关节炎中，该技术揭示了成纤维细胞与免疫细胞之间复杂的异质性和细胞间相互作用。scRNA-seq为髓核、纤维环和终板细胞的异质性提供了见解，为椎间盘退变的病理机制提供了新视角。骨肉瘤研究中的单细胞分析揭示了肿瘤微环境的复杂性和免疫抑制机制。通过这些研究，scRNA-seq增强了对疾病发病机制的认识，并为精准医学和个性化治疗策略提供了创新方法。
本文通过单细胞RNA测序（scRNA-seq）系统综述了骨科疾病（如骨关节炎、类风湿关节炎、椎间盘退变、骨肉瘤）的细胞异质性、分子机制和免疫微环境，为准确诊断、发现新治疗靶点（如TRPV1、CXCR4）和个性化治疗策略提供了理论依据。多组学与空间转录组技术的结合有望加速临床转化并优化骨科疾病的诊断和治疗体系。
