In November, our laboratory published the first report detailing gene expression patterns of the human retinal pigment epithelium and choroid at the single cell level. We identified 11 categories (clusters) of cells, including melanocytes, Schwann cells and immune cells. Vascular endothelial cells showed distinct molecular profiles based on their location in the vascular tree, with unique capillary, arterial and venous patterns. In addition, eyes with macular degeneration showed higher expression of the gene RGCC, a potential target for future therapies. These results were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA.

https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/11/06/1914143116.long