A single-cell transcriptomic atlas of human lens epithelium: identification and functional insights into lens stem/progenitor cells
This study identified four subclasses of LECs within the human lens epithelium that follow a progressive staged development pathway from progenitor cells to mature LECs. TOP2A can serve as a biomarker for TAC in the lens, and LPLCs sustain their dedifferentiated state by expressing ID1. The aging process does not appear to alter cell population demographics, but significant alteration in gene expression profile is observed. Moreover, PTN signaling emerges as a crucial factor in lens homeostasis and represents a potential target for cataract drug development.
Authors
- Jiali Yuan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2236-0827)
- Lu Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0846-6986)
- I. Michael Wormstone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6423-7766)
- Junbin Qian (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1483-1836)
- Zhenwei Qin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0040-1416)
- Di Wu
- Shengjie Hao
- Yuhao Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5256-9037)
- Yuzhou Gu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9187-9190)
- Feiyin Sheng
- Shuying Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0986-0950)
- Zhijian Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5207-4456)
- Ke Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6764-7365)
- Qiuli Fu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5107-8268)
- Zhanyong Yao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9980-5444)
- Yu Han
- Yibo Yu
Institutions
- University of Nottingham Ningbo China (CN)
- Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
- Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
- Zhejiang Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CN)
- Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy
- Published
- 2025-07-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13287-025-04436-w
- Citations
- 5
- Primary Topic
- Connexins and lens biology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.03
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Zhejiang University