Groundbreaking study maps molecular architecture of the visual system's integral components

Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLMJun 4 2023

A groundbreaking study has taken a significant step towards understanding the complexities of the human eye. By mapping the molecular architecture of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and choroid - integral components of the visual system - the research provides crucial insights into the cell compositions and molecular mechanisms underlying the eye's changes with age and region.

The RPE and choroid, located behind the human retina, are fundamental to vision, playing a myriad of roles from light absorption to providing oxygenated blood to the photoreceptor cells. However, our understanding of the gene expressions within these cells and how they contribute to retinal diseases has been limited. Over time, the human RPE accumulates lipofuscin, an end product of phagosome breakdown, which weakens the RPE cells. Concurrently, the choroidal thickness decreases dramatically with age, reducing its blood flow. Both factors contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a condition that affects millions of people worldwide.

In a study published in the journal of Genes & Diseases, researchers from Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital revealed these degenerative processes and, importantly, identifies potential therapeutic targets. The study sequenced the RNA of approximately 0.3 million single cells from the human RPE and choroids across two regions at seven different ages. This detailed analysis has unveiled regional and age-specific differences within the human RPE and choroid. Such cellular interactions underscore the extensive connectivity networks between the RPE and different choroid cell types. Additionally, the research team discovered that specific transcription factors and their target genes change during aging. Notably, they identified the gene ELN as a potential candidate for mitigating RPE degeneration and choroidal structure deterioration during aging, offering promising avenues for interventions in retinal diseases.

In conclusion, this study offers a comprehensive single-cell transcriptomic atlas of the human RPE and choroid across different regions and ages. It provides a wealth of information about the gene signatures of these integral components of the visual system. Moreover, the identification of ELN as a candidate for combating degeneration of choroidal and RPE structures paves the way for targeted interventions for anti-aging or ocular disease therapy.

This novel research has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the human visual support system. It stands as a valuable resource for future studies into distinct gene-expression signatures and lays a solid foundation for future research into the functions of RPE and choroid genes.