Single-cell profiling reveals an endothelium-mediated immunomodulatory pathway in the eye choroid.

摘要: The activity and survival of retinal photoreceptors depend on support functions performed by the pigment epithelium (RPE) oxygen nutrients delivered blood vessels in underlying choroid. By combining single-cell bulk RNA sequencing, we categorized mouse RPE/choroid cell types characterized tissue-specific transcriptomic features choroidal endothelial cells. We found that endothelium adjacent to RPE expresses high levels Indian Hedgehog identified its downstream target as stromal GLI1+ mesenchymal stem cell-like In vivo genetic impairment signaling induced significant loss mast cells, well an altered inflammatory response exacerbated visual function defects after damage. Our studies reveal cellular molecular landscape adult uncover a Hedgehog-regulated immunomodulatory circuit. These results open new avenues for study treatment vascular diseases choroid-related blinding disorders.