Abstract
Purpose :
Optic nerve is part of the central nerve system and it plays a pivotal role in the transmission of visual information from the retina to the brain. Glaucoma is a major ocular disease that is characterized by retinal ganglion cell loss and optic nerve degeneration. In this study, we aimed to investigate the transcriptional profiles of normal and glaucomatous optic nerves, and to explore the expressional changes in the glaucoma condition.
Methods :
An acute model of ocular hypertension by laser-induced occlusion of episcleral veins was used in the study. Optic nerves from control and glaucomatous murine eyeballs were sampled for single cell dissociation and RNA-seq. Data were analyzed using the Partek Flow software.
Results :
We have identified the major cell types and their transcriptional atlases for both normal and glaucomatous optic nerves. By comparing the transcriptional levels and using pathway enrichment analysis, we have also discovered significant changes in the genes and signaling pathways in the major cell types in glaucoma, such as oligodendrocytes, macrophages, astrocytes, and vascular endothelial cells.
Conclusions :
This study provides the first transcriptional atlases for both normal and glaucomatous optic nerves. It also reveals significant changes in the glaucoma condition. Further investigation promises for divulging novel mechanisms and therapeutic targets for glaucoma and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases as well.
This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.