Single-cell analysis of limbal niche heterogeneity and crosstalk with corneal epithelial stem/progenitor cells
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ABSTRACT: Compared to stem cells in other tissues, relatively little is known about the limbal niche, which is believed to play a pivotal role in regulating self-renewal and fate decision of limbal epithelial stem cells. Here we comprehensively investigated the human limbal niche with single-cell RNA sequencing. On analysis, all 47,627 cells located at human Limbus was classified into 14 clusters, and 8 types of cells were annotated. Specifically, we depicted the heterogeneity and hierarchy of limbal epithelial cells, and revealed a consecutive differentiation trajectory from limbal stem/progenitor cells by RNA velocity and pseudotime analyses. Besides, representative signaling pathway components and cell-cell communications engaged in limbal niche regulation were deciphered, suggesting a tightly regulation of the microenvironment around limbal stem/progenitor cells. Finally, comparative analysis revealed conservational and divergent transcriptional signals across species. Overall, this study provides an unbiased and systematic view of transcriptional organization of human Limbus, and dissected cell-contact-dependent regulations of limbal niche, providing foundations for investigating the cellular and molecular mechanisms, pathogenesis of related disease and potential interventions.
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE157474 | GEO | 2021/06/14
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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