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Updated: Jul 19, 2025
A Non-invasive Way to Isolate and Phenotype Cells from the Conjunctiva
Published on: July 5, 2017
Non-invasive harvesting of conjunctival cells for whole transcriptome sequencing
Michaella Hulley1, Thandiswa Ngcungcu2, Michèle Ramsay3
1Division of Human Genetics, National Health Laboratory Service and School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using a non-invasive technique, the EYEPRIM™ conjunctival cell impression device, to harvest sufficient RNA from conjunctival cells for the whole-transcriptome sequencing. Conjunctival cells from 40 participants were collected using an EYEPRIM™ conjunctival cell impression device. RNA was extracted from the samples, followed by library construction and transcriptome sequencing. Quality checks were performed for each technical step of the experiment, and the feasibility of this procedure was examined. RNA of sufficient yield and quality was successfully extracted following additional disruption and homogenization of the conjunctival cells and collection of two impression samples per eye. Successful library preparation and RNA sequencing were performed, with all 40 samples passing the various quality checks used for each step. In conclusion, harvesting cells from the ocular surface using an impression cytology device yields good quality and sufficient mRNA for whole transcriptome sequencing to study diseases of the eye. This technique provides a convenient alternative to using post-mortem tissues or surgical excisions.
