Choroidal endothelial and macrophage gene expression in atrophic and neovascular macular degeneration.

ABSTRACT: The human choroid is a heterogeneous, highly vascular connective tissue that dysfunctions in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In this study, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing on 21 human choroids, 11 of which were derived from donors with early atrophic or neovascular AMD. Using this large donor cohort, we identified new gene expression signatures and immunohistochemically characterized discrete populations of resident macrophages, monocytes/inflammatory macrophages and dendritic cells. These three immune populations demonstrated unique expression patterns for AMD genetic risk factors, with dendritic cells possessing the highest expression of the neovascular AMD-associated MMP9 gene. Additionally, we performed trajectory analysis to model transcriptomic changes across the chor

SUBMITTER: Voigt AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9307320 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature