Monocyte-derived pro-angiogenic ocular macrophages identified by spatial transcriptomics are essential for choroidal neovascularization

The human retina and underlying choroid have multiple well-organized vascular layers. However, retinal and choroidal neovascularization can develop in diseases such as diabetic retinopathy or neovascular age-related macular degeneration, which can result in destructive vision loss. Ocular macrophages are implicated in the pathogenesis of such neovascular diseases. To identify a potential pro-angiogenic macrophage subtype, we integrated 13 single-cell RNA sequencing datasets from human and mouse eyes comprising 173 unique samples. From 99,184 mononuclear phagocytes, we identified a single macrophage subtype with high expression of SPP1 , FABP5 , and IL7R that was over-represented from neovascular disease samples. We fate mapped these cells and specifically depleted them, showing that they are monocyte-derived and necessary for laser-induced choroidal neovascularization in mice. Finally, we performed a high-resolution spatial RNA sequencing experiment on six human donors and found that the pro-angiogenic macrophage subtype localized to human choroidal neovascular membranes. These macrophages and other cells in neovascular membranes expressed MMP14, a potential therapeutic target, and MMP14 inhibition decreased choroidal neovascularization in mice. Collectively, we show that this Monocyte-derived Pro-angiogenic Ocular Macrophage (MoPOM) subtype is upregulated in multiple ocular neovascular diseases across species, necessary for choroidal neovascularization, and is a potential therapeutic target to reduce destructive angiogenesis in the eye.