A single-cell transcriptome atlas of the human retinal pigment epithelium

The retina could convert light into neurochemical information that is ultimately transmitted to the brain. The macula is a special structure at the back of the retina in humans and primates. The retinal pigment epithelium is a monolayer tissue layer that is fundamentally important for retinal development and function, and RPE dysfunction can lead to a variety of retinal degenerative diseases. Therefore, it is particularly important to study the differences between macular RPE region and peripheral RPE region. Single-cell sequencing technology enables us to analyze the heterogeneity of RPE, and found different molecular functions.So, we constructed a single-cell transcriptome atlas of macular and peripheral cells. The differences of TF, receptor ligand and function between macular RPE and peripheral RPE were analyzed. Finally, some clusters associated with retinal disease was identified. Our results provide data support for exploring the pathogenesis of RPE and retinal diseases, contributing to a deeper understanding of the physiological mechanism of retina and providing new ideas for the treatment of diseases. Overall design: RPE cells were isolated from the eyes of 3 donors and profiled with single-cell RNA sequencing(10× Genomics).cDNA libraries were generated using the Chromium Single cell 3' V2 kit.