A Keratin 12 Expression-Based Analysis of Stem-Precursor Cells and Differentiation in the Limbal-Corneal Epithelium Using Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data.

ABSTRACT: The corneal epithelium (CE) is spread between two domains, the outer vascularized limbus and the avascular cornea proper. Epithelial cells undergo constant migration from the limbus to the vision-critical central cornea. Coordinated with this migration, the cells undergo differentiation changes where a pool of unique stem/precursor cells at the limbus yields the mature cells that reach the corneal center. Differentiation is heralded by the expression of the corneal-specific Krt12. Processing data acquired by scRNA-Seq showed that the increase in Krt12 expression occurs in four distinct steps within the limbus, plus a single continuous increase in the cornea. Differential gene analysis demonstrated that these domains reflect discreet stages of CE differentiation and yielded extensive inform

SUBMITTER: Wolosin JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10968048 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature