| First Author | Heng JS | Year | 2019 |
| Journal | Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A | PubMed ID | 31843893 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:286660 | Mgi Id | MGI:6388199 |
| Doi | 10.1073/pnas.1915571116 | Citation | Heng JS, et al. (2019) Comprehensive analysis of a mouse model of spontaneous uveoretinitis using single-cell RNA sequencing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |
| abstractText | Autoimmune uveoretinitis is a significant cause of visual loss, and mouse models offer unique opportunities to study its disease mechanisms. Aire (-/-) mice fail to express self-antigens in the thymus, exhibit reduced central tolerance, and develop a spontaneous, chronic, and progressive uveoretinitis. Using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we characterized wild-type and Aire (-/-) retinas to define, in a comprehensive and unbiased manner, the cell populations and gene expression patterns associated with disease. Based on scRNA-seq, immunostaining, and in situ hybridization, we infer that 1) the dominant effector response in Aire (-/-) retinas is Th1-driven, 2) a subset of monocytes convert to either a macrophage/microglia state or a dendritic cell state, 3) the development of tertiary lymphoid structures constitutes part of the Aire (-/-) retinal phenotype, 4) all major resident retinal cell types respond to interferon gamma (IFNG) by changing their patterns of gene expression, and 5) Muller glia up-regulate specific genes in response to IFN gamma and may act as antigen-presenting cells. |
