Single-cell profiling reveals senescent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell subpopulations driving pathological ossification in ankylosing spondylitis.
Luo X · 2026 · Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
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What this paper found
Single-cell analysis of bone marrow stem cells from people with ankylosing spondylitis found a worn-out, senescent group of cells that dominated in those with advanced spinal fusion and churned out bone-forming signals. New bone in AS may come from exhausted stem cells rather than healthy ones, which points to a different kind of drug target than inflammation.
Why this is on the map
First cell-level map of the stem cells behind fusion; relevant to any future MSC-based therapy, which would need to avoid this state.
On the map under this thread
DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keag429 · opens in a new tab. The full paper is on the publisher’s site, not here.
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