Application progress of single-cell sequencing technology in mesenchymal stem cells research

Single-Cell Sequencing (SCS) technology plays an important role in the field of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) research. This paper comprehensively describes the application of SCS technology in the field of MSCs research, including (1) SCS enables more precise MSCs characterization and biomarker definition. (2) SCS reveals the prevalent gene expression heterogeneity among different subclusters within MSCs, which contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of MSCs function and diversity in developmental, regenerative, and pathological contexts. (3) SCS provides insights into the dynamic transcriptional changes experienced by MSCs during differentiation and the complex web of important signaling pathways and regulatory factors controlling key processes within MSCs, including proliferation, differentiation and regulation, and interactions mechanisms. (4) The analytical methods underpinning SCS data are rapidly evolving and converging with the field of histological research to systematically deconstruct the functions and mechanisms of MSCs. This review provides new perspectives for unraveling the biological properties, heterogeneity, differentiation potential, biological functions, and clinical potential of MSCs at the single-cell level.