Heterogeneous Damage of Retinal Ganglion Cell Types in Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness, characterized by progressive damage to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). However, the mechanisms driving cell-type-specific vulnerability and gene expression changes in glaucoma remain poorly understood. Here, we employed high-throughput single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility sequencing (HT-scCAT-seq) to comprehensively analyze gene expression and cis-regulatory elements in a glaucoma model. Our integrative analysis identified distinct transcriptional profiles and chromatin accessibility patterns across RGC subtypes, revealing heterogeneous damage and regulatory dynamics. Key regulatory elements driving differential gene expression were linked to glaucoma-associated pathways, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms underlying disease progression. These findings provide valuable insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic landscapes of glaucoma, offering potential targets for therapeutic intervention.