Deciphering Müller cell heterogeneity signatures in diabetic retinopathy across species: an integrative single-cell analysis

Abstract

Abstract Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of visual impairment, demands a profound comprehension of its cellular mechanisms to formulate effective therapeutic strategies. Our study presentes a comprehensive single-cell analysis elucidating the intricate landscape of Müller cells within DR, emphasizing their nuanced involvement. Utilizing scRNA-seq data from both Sprague–Dawley rat models and human patients, we delineated distinct Müller cell clusters and their corresponding gene expression profiles. These findings were further validated through differential gene expression analysis utilizing human transcriptomic data. Notably, certain Müller cell clusters displayed upregulation of the Rho gene, implying a phagocytic response to damaged photoreceptors within the DR microenvironment. This phenomenon was consistently observed across species. Additionally, the co-expression patterns of RHO and PDE6G within Müller cell clusters provided compelling evidence supporting their potential role in maintaining retinal integrity during DR. Our results offer novel insights into the cellular dynamics of DR and underscore Müller cells as promising therapeutic targets for preserving vision in retinal disorders induced by diabetes.

Keywords

• Diabetic retinopathy
• Single-cell transcriptomics
• Müller cell
• RHO