Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing in the retina / 中华眼底病杂志

Retina is composed of a heterogeneous population of cell types, each with a unique biological function. Even if the same type of cells, due to genetic heterogeneity will lead to cell function differences. In the past, traditional molecular biological methods cannot resolve variations in their functional roles that arise from these differences, and some cells are difficult to define due to the lack of specific molecular markers or the scarcity of numbers, which hindered the understanding and research of these cells. With the development of biotechnology, single-cell RNA sequencing can analyze and resolve differences in single-cell transcriptome expression profiles, characterize intracellular population heterogeneity, identify new and rare cell subtypes, and more definitely define the characteristics of each cell type. It clarifies the origin, function, and variations in cell phenotypes. Other attributes include pinpointing both disease-related characteristics of cell subtypes and specific differential gene expression patterns, to deepen our understanding of the causes and progression of diseases, as well as to aid clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy.

Research progress on correlation between microRNA and retinal development / 中华实验眼科杂志

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small,stable RNA molecules that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression in plants and animals by base pairing to partially complementary sequences on target mRNAs to inhibit protein synthesis.More than 200 miRNAs are reportedly expressed in the retina,and miRNA gene regulation has been shown to affect retinal development and is related to the development of both neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium,their gene-regulating function is also closely tied with the differentiation and the survival of both photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells.Furthermore,miRNA gene regulation is also associated with retinal regeneration after injury.MiRNA controls the development of retina mainly by direct regulating the expression of some related target gene or by adjusting the components of certain signaling pathways.During the development of retina,the normal function of miRNA ensures the correct structure formation of retina,which also provides a substance basis for its normal physiological function.Herein we reviewed the recent research progress of the relavence between functional roles of retinal miRNAs and the retinal development of vertebrate.

Regulation roles of COUP transcription factors in the development of embryonic eye / 中华实验眼科杂志

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factors (COUP-TFs) are the orphan receptors of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily.These factors include COUP-TF Ⅰ and COUP-TF Ⅱ,which play critical roles in embryonic development,organogenesis,neurogenesis and cellular differentiation.Many studies showed that COUP-TFs were also involved in the development of embryonic eye.More attention has been paid to the issue that mutations of COUP-TFs genes lead to phenotypes of coloboma,small eyes,optic atrophy,eye retardation,strabismus,and amblyopia.However,the mechanisms of COUP-TFs regulating the development of embryonic eye are not clear.The origin,molecular struture,classification,biological functions,mechanisms of regulating the target genes transcription and development of embryonic eye of COUP-TFs were reviewed.

Immunohistochemical Distribution of Heme Oxygenase Isoenzymes in Developing Rat Retina

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare the immunohistochemical distributions of HO-1 and HO-2 with the developmental process of retina, focusing on the time of birth and opening eyes because it is the time of the exposure to hyperoxia and light exposure. METHODS: The retina of 16-day-old embryo, 18-day-old embryo, 20-day-old embryo and postnatal rats at 0 day, 5 days, 10 days, 15 days, 20 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months were examined by hematoxylineeosin staining and immunohistochemistry of HO-1 and HO-2. RESULTS: Similar distribution of HO-1 and HO-2 from embryo to mature retina were observed. It was observed that HO-1 and HO-2 was contained in ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner nuclear layer, outer plexiform layer and pigment layer of the mature retina. In the developmental process, reactivity was observed in the cell body of ganglion cells after 0 day of its birth. The reactivity was increased after 5 days of its birth, staining was observed in nerve cell and nerve fiber of ganglion cell layer, inner plexiform layer, inner segment of neuroblastic layer, pigment layer at this time. Reactivity of ganglion cell layer and pigment layer was increased intensively after 15 days of its birth and weak reactivity in some of horizontal cells and amacrine cells in inner plexiform layer was observed. The same distribution as that of mature retina was observed after 20 days of its birth. CONCLUSIONS: HO-1 and HO-2 expression was temporally and spatially correlated with the normal development of retina in rats. HO was concerned with the structure and function of retinal development by the activation of its products and with anti-oxidant mechanism on the time of birth and opening eyes.