Transcriptional profiling of retinal astrocytes identifies a specific marker and points to functional specialization

• DOI: 10.1002/glia.24571
• Publication Date: 2024-05-24T12:00:53Z
• Authors: Paul F. Cullen; William J. Gammer...; Shannan J. Ho Sui; Arpan Guha Mazumder; Daniel Sun
• Keywords: Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice; 0303 health sciences; 03 medical and health sciences; Astrocytes; Gene Expression Profiling; Animals; Optic Nerve; Transcriptome; Retina

Abstract Astrocyte heterogeneity is an increasingly prominent research topic, and studies in the brain have demonstrated substantial variation astrocyte form function, both between within regions. In contrast, retinal astrocytes are not well understood remain incompletely characterized. Along with optic nerve astrocytes, they responsible for supporting ganglion cell axons improved understanding of their role required. We used a combination microdissection Ribotag immunoprecipitation to isolate ribosome‐associated mRNA from investigate transcriptome, which we also compared populations nerve. Astrocytes these regions transcriptionally distinct, identified retina‐specific genes pathways. Moreover, although share much “classical” gene expression patterns uncovered unexpected variation, including related core functions. additionally transcription factor Pax8 as highly specific marker that populate only surface, but prelaminar region at head. These findings likely contribute revised retina.