LepR-Expressing Stem Cells Are Essential for Alveolar Bone Regeneration
D. Zhang, S. Zhang, Jun Wang, Qiu Li, Hanxiao Xue, Rui Sheng, Qiuchan Xiong, Xingying Qi, Jintian Wen, Yi Fan, Bo Zhou, Quan Yuan
Abstract
Stem cells play a critical role in bone regeneration. Multiple populations of skeletal stem cells have been identified in long bone, while their identity and functions in alveolar bone remain unclear. Here, we identified a quiescent leptin receptor–expressing (LepR + ) cell population that contributed to intramembranous bone formation. Interestingly, these LepR + cells became activated in response to tooth extraction and generated the majority of the newly formed bone in extraction sockets. In addition, genetic ablation of LepR + cells attenuated extraction socket healing. The parabiosis experiments revealed that the LepR + cells in the healing sockets were derived from resident tissue rather than peripheral blood circulation. Further studies on the mechanism suggested that these LepR + cells were responsive to parathyroid hormone/parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH/PTH1R) signaling. Collectively, we demonstrate that LepR + cells, a postnatal skeletal stem cell population, are essential for alveolar bone regeneration of extraction sockets.