Identification of novel molecular markers through transcriptomic analysis in human fetal and adult corneal endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: The corneal endothelium is composed of a monolayer of corneal endothelial cells (CECs), which is essential for maintaining corneal transparency. To better characterize CECs in different developmental stages, we profiled mRNA transcriptomes in human fetal and adult corneal endothelium with the goal to identify novel molecular markers in these cells. By comparing CECs with 12 other tissue types, we identified 245 and 284 signature genes that are highly expressed in fetal and adult CECs, respectively. Functionally, these genes are enriched in pathways characteristic of CECs, including inorganic anion transmembrane transporter, extracellular matrix structural constituent and cyclin-dependent protein kinase inhibitor activity. Importantly, several of these genes are disease target genes in here

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3596846 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature