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
Recommended Citation
, "Growth Plate Skeletal Stem Cells and Their Actions Within the Stem Cell Niche" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 166.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthdb_docs/166