Dataset Information

Dissecting the transcriptome landscape of the human fetal neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium by single-cell RNA-seq analysis.

ABSTRACT: The developmental pathway of the neural retina (NR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been revealed by extensive research in mice. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the human NR and RPE, as well as the interactions between these two tissues, have not been well defined. Here, we analyzed 2,421 individual cells from human fetal NR and RPE using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technique and revealed the tightly regulated spatiotemporal gene expression network of human retinal cells. We identified major cell classes of human fetal retina and potential crucial transcription factors for each cell class. We dissected the dynamic expression patterns of visual cycle- and ligand-receptor interaction-related genes in the RPE and NR. Moreover, we provided a map of disease-related genes for human fetal retinal cells and highlighted the importance of retinal progenitor cells as potential targets of inherited retinal diseases. Our findings captured the key in vivo features of the development of the human NR and RPE and offered insightful clues for further functional studies.

SUBMITTER: Hu Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6634428 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Dissecting the transcriptome landscape of the human fetal neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium by single-cell RNA-seq analysis.

Hu Yuqiong Y Wang Xiaoye X Hu Boqiang B Mao Yunuo Y Chen Yidong Y Yan Liying L Yong Jun J Dong Ji J Wei Yuan Y Wang Wei W Wen Lu L Qiao Jie J Tang Fuchou F

PLoS biology 20190703 7

The developmental pathway of the neural retina (NR) and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) has been revealed by extensive research in mice. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of the human NR and RPE, as well as the interactions between these two tissues, have not been well defined. Here, we analyzed 2,421 individual cells from human fetal NR and RPE using single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) technique and revealed the tightly regulated spatiotemporal gene expression netwo ...[more]

PMID: 31269016

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Project description:Purpose: The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) forms the outer blood-retinal barrier. Primary cultures of RPE can model the barrier, but are very sensitive to culture conditions. We examined how the neural retina regulates the RPE transcriptome in a culture model of embryonic development. Attention focused on the tight junctional genes essential for barrier function. Methods: Chick RPE from embryonic day 7 (E7) or embryonic day 14 (E14) was cultured on filters in a serum free medium. Media conditioned by organ culture of neural retinas was applied to the apical surface of the cultured RPE. Fetal bovine serum (2%) was included in some experiments. When the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) reached a plateau, total RNA was isolated to probe the chick genome on Affymetrix microarrays. The expression tight junctional mRNAs was confirmed by real-time PCR and immunoblotting the protein. Results: The TER was slightly increased by serum, but increased 2-3X by retinal conditioned medium. Serum diminished the effect of retinal conditioned medium. In basal conditions, 86% of the transcriptome expressed during development in vivo was also expressed in culture. Approximately 5% of the transcriptome expressed in culture was absent in vivo. E14 retinal conditioned medium affected 15% of the transcriptome in E7 cultures (24% if serum was included), but only 1.9% in E14 cultures (12% with serum). Examination of 610 genes important for RPE function revealed that mRNAs for 17% were regulated by retinal conditioned medium alone in E7 cultures, compared to 6.2% for E14. For tight junctions, retinal conditioned medium had the most affect on members of the claudin family. These results were confirmed by quantitative real-time PCR. Besides regulating mRNA levels, immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry suggested additional mechanisms whereby retinal secretions regulated protein expression and localization. Conclusions: Gene expression in primary cultures of embryonic RPE resembled the native tissue, but expression, and differentiation, is improved when elements of the normal extracellular environment are replicated in culture. For a small group of proteins, retinal secretions were required to maintain in vivo-like expression in culture. Albeit insufficient, retinal secretions promoted differentiation of immature RPE and helped maintain the properties of more mature RPE. Keywords: Tissue interactions, retina, retinal pigment epithelium, blood-retinal barrier, tight junctions

Dataset Information

Dissecting the transcriptome landscape of the human fetal neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium by single-cell RNA-seq analysis.

Publications

Dissecting the transcriptome landscape of the human fetal neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium by single-cell RNA-seq analysis.

Similar Datasets

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