Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Language

English

Publication Date

9-27-2025

Journal

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

DOI

10.3390/ijms26199460

PMID

41096725

PMCID

PMC12525321

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

9-27-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Post-print

Abstract

The growth plate is a specialized cartilage structure near the ends of long bones that orchestrates longitudinal bone growth during fetal and postnatal stages. Within this region reside a dynamic population of growth plate skeletal stem cells (gpSSCs), primarily located in the resting zone, which possess self-renewal and multilineage differentiation capacity. Recent advances in cell-lineage tracing, single-cell transcriptomics, and in vivo functional studies have revealed distinct subpopulations of gpSSCs, which are defined by markers such as parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), CD73, axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin2), forkhead box protein A2 (FoxA2), and apolipoprotein E (ApoE). These stem cells interact intricately with their niche, particularly after the formation of the secondary ossification center, through stage-specific regulatory mechanisms involving several key signaling pathways. This review summarizes the current understanding of gpSSC identity, behavior, and regulation, focusing on how these cells sustain growth plate function through adapting to biomechanical and molecular cues.

Keywords

Humans, Animals, Growth Plate, Stem Cell Niche, Stem Cells, Cell Differentiation, Signal Transduction, Osteogenesis, growth plate, resting zone chondrocytes, skeletal stem cells, epiphyseal stem cell niche, parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), CD73, Axis inhibition protein 2 (Axin2), forkhead box protein A2 (FoxA2), apolipoprotein E (ApoE)

Published Open-Access

yes

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Dentistry Commons

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