MicroRNA-145 Regulates Human Corneal Epithelial Differentiation [Agilent-016436 array data]
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens
PROVIDER: GSE24979 | GEO | 2011/10/10
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PRJNA133461
REPOSITORIES: GEO
Similar Datasets
Project description:To investigate the microRNA expression in human limbal-peripheral corneal (LPC) epithelia containing corneal epithelial progenitor cells (CEPCs) and early transit amplifying cells, we have employed Human microRNA Microarray V2 (Agilent) as a screening platform to identify specific microRNAs. We discovered a differential expression of 18 microRNAs against central corneal (CC) epithelia, which contains late transit amplifying cells and terminally differentiated cells. Among them, cluster miR-143/145 was expressed strongly in LPC but at low levels in CC epithelia and this was validated by real-time PCR and locked nucleic acid-based in situ hybridization. LPC and CC epithelia, separated by 1-mm in width, were dissected from human cornea for small RNA extraction. Total RNA was extracted by Trizol/chloroform and purified with RNeasy mini spin column. RNA samples with 28S/18S ratios in the range of 1.4 to 1.8 were used for microRNA profiling using an Agilent Human microRNA Microarray V2 platform.
2011-10-09 | E-GEOD-24979 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Purpose: Single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) was used to interrogate the relatively rare stem (SC) and early transit amplifying (TA) cell populations in limbal/corneal epithelia from wild-type and autophagy-compromised mice. Results: Unbiased clustering detected 10 distinct populations: three clusters of mesenchymal and seven clusters of epithelial cells, based on their unique molecular signatures. A discrete group of mesenchymal cells expressed genes associated with corneal stromal SCs. We identified three limbal/corneal epithelial cell subpopulations designated as stem/early TA, mature TA, and differentiated corneal epithelial cells. Thioredoxin-interacting protein and PDZ-binding kinase (PBK) were identified as novel regulators of stem/early TA cell quiescence. PBK arrested corneal epithelial cells in G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Beclin1+/− mice displayed a decrease in proliferation-associated (Ki67, Lrig1) and stress-response (H2ax) genes. The most increased gene in beclin1+/− mice was transcription factor ATF3, which negatively regulates limbal epithelial cell proliferation. Conclusions: Establishment of a comprehensive atlas of genes expressed by stromal and epithelial cells from limbus and cornea forms the foundation for unraveling regulatory networks among these distinct tissues. Similarly, scRNA-seq profiling of the anterior segmental epithelia from wild-type and autophagy-deficient mice provides new insights into how autophagy influences proliferation in these tissues.
2020-09-24 | GSE158454 | GEO
Project description:Limbal stem cells (LSCs), known as corneal epithelial stem cells, are located at the basal epithelial layer of the corneal limbus and serve an important function in maintaining the homeostasis of the corneal epithelium. Several putative molecular markers of LSCs have been previously identified. However, the specificity of these markers remains largely controversial. To address this gap in the current understanding of LSCs, we performed a transcriptome profiling of heterogeneous corneal limbal basal cells using single-cell transcriptomics technology to identify LSCs and their exclusive markers. We isolated limbal basal cells from two young donors, constructed scRNA-seq libraries, generated RNA-sequencing data using the 10x Genomics platform, and then finally obtained the transcriptome of about 18,000 individual single-cells using Cell ranger (https://10xgenomics.com). Next, we performed quality control, filtering and data integration using Seurat package (https://satijalab.org/seurat), about 16,400 cells were retained for further downstream analysis such as dimensional reduction, unsupervised clustering, and Differentially expressed gene selection, trajectory analysis and visualization. We identified 11 unique clusters of cells assigned to a putative cell type based on published known biomarkers for differentiation, proliferation and putative epithelial stem cells. As a results, we found 2 Terminally Differentiated Cell (TDC), 3 Post-Mitotic Cell (PMC), 1 Transient Amplifying Cell (TAC), 2 Limbal Progenitor Cell (LPC), Putative Limbal Stem Cell (LSC) and 2 Melanocyte (MC) sub-cell type clusters. Furthermore, we confirmed the trajectory order of LSC differentiation for 9 clusters using Pseudotemporal and Functional PCA analysis. Lastly, we validated each assigned cell subtypes and determined their location in human corneal limbus tissue with 9 markers using RNAscope We were able to reveal the heterogeneity of corneal limbal basal epithelium by defining novel dynamic trajectories for cell types in a pseudotemporal manner. This approach allowed us to identify the distinct clusters of LSCs and progenitors with exclusively expressed markers, and might apply for translational research on regenerating a normal corneal epithelium and restoring vision.
2021-01-14 | GSE153515 | GEO
Project description:To study the development and composition of human ocular surface, we performed single cell (sc) RNA-Seq at key embryonic, fetal and adult stages and generated the first atlas of the corneal and conjunctival cell types from development to adulthood. The conjunctival epithelium is the first to be specified in the epithelial layer , followed by the corneal epithelium and the establishment of proliferative epithelial progenitors, which predate the formation of limbal niche by a few weeks. Bioinformatic comparison of adult cell clusters identified GPHA2,a novel cell-surface marker for quiescent limbal stem cells (qLSCs), whose function is to maintain qLSCs self-renewal. Combining scRNA- and ATAC-Seq analysis, we identified multiple upstream regulators for qLSCs and transit amplifying (TA) cells and demonstrated a close interaction between the immune cells and epithelial stem and progenitor cells in the cornea. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis indicated loss of qLSCs and acquisition of proliferative limbal epithelial progenitor markers during limbal epithelial cell expansion: this phenomenon was independent of culture method used. Extending the single cell analyses to Keratoconus, we were able to reveal activation of collagenase in the corneal stroma and a reduced pool of TA cells in the corneal epithelium as two key mechanistic changes underlying the disease phenotype. Our scRNA-Seq data comparisons of developing and adult cornea and conjunctiva provide a unique resource for defining pathways/genes that could lead to improvement in ex vivo expansion methods for cell based replacement therapies and better understanding and treatment of ocular surface disorders.
2021-04-19 | GSE155683 | GEO
Project description:For decades, it has been well accepted that corneal epithelial stem cells and their immediate progeny, the early transit amplifying (eTA) cells, reside in the limbal epithelial basal layer. Activation of quiescent stem/eTA cells is required for proper re-epithelialization during wound healing. The molecular profile of activated stem/eTA cells remains unclear because of difficulties in obtaining discrete cell populations for analyses. Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology can profile the transcriptome at a single cell level, providing information on how stem/eTA cell activation is regulated. Using this technology, we report that ACE2, a key component in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), functions as a negative regulator of stem/eTA activation. Methods: Mouse corneal epithelium was exposed to 1M NaOH for 30s or mechanically removed with a diamond burr. Corneas were processed for scRNA-seq and data was analyzed using R with a Seurat package. Limbal epithelial cell proliferation was assessed using BrdU incorporation. RT-qPCR, western blotting and immunostaining were conducted to determine the change of gene expression. Results: ACE2 was predominantly expressed in the stem cell-enriched limbal basal epithelium. scRNA-seq combined with GO analysis suggested that ACE2 was involved in limbal stem/eTA cell proliferation. Interestingly, immunostaining and RT-qPCR indicated that ACE2 expression was reduced following corneal injuries. Reduction in ACE2 promoted proliferation in human limbal epithelial cell culture as well as in mouse limbal epithelium after corneal epithelial debridement. Significantly, the negative effect of ACE2 on proliferation was not reversed following treatment with the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan, indicating that the function of ACE2 in limbal epithelium is independent of RAS. scRNA-seq also revealed that reduction of ACE2 caused activation of the TGFA/EGFR pathway, which reduced expression of Lcn2. Lcn2 is a negative regulator of proliferation in a variety of cells. Inhibition of EGFR or overexpression of Lcn2 reversed the increased proliferation in limbal epithelial cells lacking ACE2. Conclusion: Our findings strongly support the idea that in response to corneal injury, ACE2 is downregulated, which results in the activation of stem/eTA cell proliferation via a novel TGFA/EGFR/Lcn2 signaling pathway in an angiotensin-independent way.
2024-07-15 | GSE263994 | GEO
Project description:The cornea is the clear window that lets light into the eye. It is composed of five layers: epithelium, Bowman’s layer, stroma, Descemet’s membrane and endothelium. The maintenance of its structure and transparency are determined by the functions of the different cell types populating each layer. Attempts to regenerate corneal tissue and understand disease conditions requires knowledge of how cell profiles vary across this heterogeneous tissue. We performed a single cell transcriptomic profiling of 19,472 cells isolated from eight healthy donor corneas. Our analysis delineates the heterogeneity of the corneal layers by identifying cell populations and revealing cell states that contribute in preserving corneal homeostasis. We identified that the expression of CAV1, CXCL14, HOMER3 and CPVL were exclusive to the corneal epithelial limbal stem cell niche, CKS2, STMN1 and UBE2C were exclusively expressed in highly proliferative transit amplifying cells, and NNMT was exclusively expressed by stromal keratocytes. Overall, this research provides a basis to improve current primary cell expansion protocols, for future profiling of corneal disease states, to help guide pluripotent stem cells into different corneal lineages, and to understand how engineered substrates affect corneal cells to improve regenerative therapies.
2021-10-25 | GSE186433 | GEO
Project description:The identification of a marker that is expressed in the conjunctival epithelium but not in the corneal epithelium has been a growing need. A more specific marker of limbal and conjunctival epithelia would be necessary to detect non-corneal epithelial cells on the corneal surface. To search for conjunctival specific marker(s), we first performed preferential gene profiling in the conjunctiva in direct comparison to that in the cornea using microarray technique. The study consisted of gene expression profiles comparing the cornea and conjunctiva.
2011-06-09 | E-GEOD-29402 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:The transparent corneal epithelium in the eye is maintained through the homeostasis regulated by limbal stem cells, while the non-transparent epidermis relies on epidermal keratinocytes for renewal. Despite their cellular similarities, the precise cell fates of these two types of epithelial stem cells, which give rise to functionally distinct epithelia, remain unknown. We performed a multi-omics analysis of human limbal stem cells from the cornea and keratinocytes from the epidermis and characterized their molecular signatures, highlighting their similarities and differences. Through gene regulatory network analyses, we identified shared and cell type-specific transcription factors that define specific cell fates, and established their regulatory hierarchy. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses of the cornea and the epidermis confirmed these shared and cell type-specific transcription factors. Notably, the shared and limbal stem cell-specific transcription factors can cooperatively target genes associated with corneal opacity. Importantly, we discovered that FOSL2, a direct PAX6 target gene, is a novel candidate associated with corneal opacity, and it regulates genes implicated in corneal diseases. By characterizing molecular signatures, our study unveils the regulatory circuitry governing the limbal stem cell fate and its association with corneal opacity.
2023-09-22 | GSE236440 | GEO
Project description:The transparent corneal epithelium in the eye is maintained through the homeostasis regulated by limbal stem cells, while the non-transparent epidermis relies on epidermal keratinocytes for renewal. Despite their cellular similarities, the precise cell fates of these two types of epithelial stem cells, which give rise to functionally distinct epithelia, remain unknown. We performed a multi-omics analysis of human limbal stem cells from the cornea and keratinocytes from the epidermis and characterized their molecular signatures, highlighting their similarities and differences. Through gene regulatory network analyses, we identified shared and cell type-specific transcription factors that define specific cell fates, and established their regulatory hierarchy. Single-cell RNA-seq analyses of the cornea and the epidermis confirmed these shared and cell type-specific transcription factors. Notably, the shared and limbal stem cell-specific transcription factors can cooperatively target genes associated with corneal opacity. Importantly, we discovered that FOSL2, a direct PAX6 target gene, is a novel candidate associated with corneal opacity, and it regulates genes implicated in corneal diseases. By characterizing molecular signatures, our study unveils the regulatory circuitry governing the limbal stem cell fate and its association with corneal opacity.
2023-09-22 | GSE206923 | GEO