Single-Cell Transcriptomic Comparison of Human Fetal Retina, HPSC-Derived Retinal Organoids, and Long-Term Retinal Cultures

Overview

Journal Cell Rep

Publisher Cell Press

Specialties Biology
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology

Date 2020 Feb 6

PMID 32023475

Citations 137

Authors

Akshayalakshmi Sridhar

Akina Hoshino

Connor R Finkbeiner

Alex Chitsazan

Li Dai

Alexandra K Haugan

Kayla M Eschenbacher

Dana L Jackson

Cole Trapnell

Olivia Bermingham-McDonogh

Ian Glass

Thomas A Reh

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

To study the development of the human retina, we use single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) at key fetal stages and follow the development of the major cell types as well as populations of transitional cells. We also analyze stem cell (hPSC)-derived retinal organoids; although organoids have a very similar cellular composition at equivalent ages as the fetal retina, there are some differences in gene expression of particular cell types. Moreover, the inner retinal lamination is disrupted at more advanced stages of organoids compared with fetal retina. To determine whether the disorganization in the inner retina is due to the culture conditions, we analyze retinal development in fetal retina maintained under similar conditions. These retinospheres develop for at least 6 months, displaying better inner retinal lamination than retinal organoids. Our single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) comparisons of fetal retina, retinal organoids, and retinospheres provide a resource for developing better in vitro models for retinal disease.

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