Wild-type and Hsd3b6-deficient mouse meibomian gland transcriptome

To dissect molecular mechanisms underlying Hsd3b6-/-meibomian gland phenotypes, we performed RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-purified meibomian gland cells. RNA-seq analysis was performed using FACS-purified Itgav(+);CD45(-) meibomian gland acinar cells from wildtype and Hsd3b6-/-mice.As revealed by gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, cells sorted from Hsd3b6-/-mice show increased expression of inflammation-related genes. On the other hand, downregulated genes exhibit the highest enrichment score for the GO term related to “regulation of anatomical structure morphogenesis”, a signature accounting for the phenotype of the meibomian gland atrophy of Hsd3b6-/- mice. Overall design: RNA-seq analysis using FACS-purified meibomian gland cells from wild-type and Hsd3b6-/- mice