Single cell transcriptome profiling of retinal ganglion cells identifies cellular subtypes.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-17-2018

JAX Source

Nat Commun 2018 Jul 17; 9(1):2759

Volume

9

Issue

1

First Page

2759

Last Page

2759

ISSN

2041-1723

PMID

30018341

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-05134-3

Abstract

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) convey the major output of information collected from the eye to the brain. Thirty subtypes of RGCs have been identified to date. Here, we analyze 6225 RGCs (average of 5000 genes per cell) from right and left eyes by single-cell RNA-seq and classify them into 40 subtypes using clustering algorithms. We identify additional subtypes and markers, as well as transcription factors predicted to cooperate in specifying RGC subtypes. Zic1, a marker of the right eye-enriched subtype, is validated by immunostaining in situ. Runx1 and Fst, the markers of other subtypes, are validated in purified RGCs by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunostaining. We show the extent of gene expression variability needed for subtype segregation, and we show a hierarchy in diversification from a cell-type population to subtypes. Finally, we present a website for comparing the gene expression of RGC subtypes.

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