Single-Cell Network Analysis Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Pathology following Retinal Detachment

Retinal detachment (RD) is an ocular emergency that can lead to irreversible vision loss. However, because of the cellular heterogeneity within the retina, the pathologic alterations following RD remain insufficiently elucidated. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on retinal tissues from patients with RD, and the data were analyzed using the single-cell graphical Gaussian model, a gene co-expression network analysis algorithm developed by our team. Single-cell graphical Gaussian model analysis revealed several cell-type-specific gene modules (GMs) following RD, which were further validated. We observed a GM associated with the glycolytic process that was up-regulated across most cell clusters, and further confirmed that anaerobic glycolysis in the retina was markedly increased following RD. In addition, a GM associated with apoptosis regulation was significantly enriched in rod cells. In Müller cells, the GM related to extracellular matrix organization was down-regulated. In microglia, GMs related to leukocyte migration were up-regulated, potentially involving the fibronectin 1 pathway, and limited evidence suggested T-cell infiltration into the retina following RD, with both findings remaining preliminary and requiring further validation. Overall, this study reveals cell-type-specific pathologic changes following RD, providing deeper insight into the pathologic mechanisms underlying visual dysfunction following RD.