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Single Cell Transcriptomics Identifies Distinct Choroid Cell Populations Involved in Visually Guided Eye Growth
Jody A Summers1, Kenneth L Jones2
1Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States.
Frontiers in Ophthalmology
|February 23, 2024
Summary
The chick choroid contains diverse cell types involved in eye growth regulation. Single-cell sequencing revealed gene expression changes during emmetropization, highlighting a rare, potentially light-sensitive neuronal cell population.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Postnatal ocular growth is controlled by emmetropization, a vision-dependent process minimizing refractive error.
- The choroid is hypothesized to regulate ocular elongation and refractive development through growth factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively profile chick choroid cell populations using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).
- To identify gene expression changes in choroidal cells during emmetropization.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of chick choroid.
- UMAP clustering analysis to identify distinct cell populations.
- Differential gene expression analysis between control and emmetropizing eyes.
Main Results:
- 24 distinct cell clusters identified, including fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells, Schwann cells, and melanocytes.
- Significant gene expression changes observed in 17 clusters (95% of cells), with most changes being minor.
- A rare neuronal cell population (<0.49%) showed high expression of neuron-specific and opsin genes, suggesting light sensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Provides the first comprehensive cell atlas of the chick choroid during emmetropization.
- Identifies a novel, potentially light-sensitive neuronal cell population in the choroid.
- Offers insights into cellular mechanisms and regulatory pathways governing postnatal eye growth.
