Transcriptomic Characterization of Terminal Complement Complex-bound Cells in Human Choroid Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing
- 1University of Iowa
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Early AMD is characterized by dysfunction in the choroid, including early dropout of endothelial cells and increased deposition of the complement cascade's membrane attack complex (MAC) in the choriocapillaris. In this study, we used a single-cell RNA sequencing-based approach with barcoded antibodies to measure abundance of the MAC and other surface proteins at single cell resolution on RPE/choroid samples from four aged human donor eyes. We included antibodies to detect the MAC, CD34, CD45, and complement regulators CD55 and CD59, in addition to control antibodies. Our analysis of these data revealed cell clusters with expected gene expression profiles and antibody-based detection of CD34 and CD45 congruent with transcriptome-based cell identity. We also detected surface complement regulators CD55 and CD59 across a wide variety of cell types. Across endothelial cells, surface CD55 and CD59 appeared more abundant on venous clusters, and abundance of each was correlated with expression of a third complement regulator, clusterin (CLU). The MAC was detected on a variety of cell types, but was most abundant on the surface of cells in the macrophage family, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. We confirmed these findings by identifying MAC deposition on choriocapillaris pericytes using immunohistochemistry for MAC, endothelial, and pericyte markers. Ultimately, these data showcase a valuable new approach to analyze gene expression and surface complement in human donor eyes, and provide novel insight into patterns of MAC deposition and complement protection in the aging human choroid.
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BibTeX
@misc{jensen2026transcriptomic,
title = {{Transcriptomic Characterization of Terminal Complement Complex-bound Cells in Human Choroid Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing}},
author = {R. D. Jensen and N. K. Mullin and K. Mulfaul and J. E. B. Miller and E. Navratil and A. P. Voigt and T. Scheetz and L. A. Wiley and E. Stone and B. Tucker and R. Mullins},
howpublished = {bioRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.64898/2026.09.05.749603},
url = {https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.05.749603v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Transcriptomic Characterization of Terminal Complement Complex-bound Cells in Human Choroid Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing
AU - R. D. Jensen
AU - N. K. Mullin
AU - K. Mulfaul
AU - J. E. B. Miller
AU - E. Navratil
AU - A. P. Voigt
AU - T. Scheetz
AU - L. A. Wiley
AU - E. Stone
AU - B. Tucker
AU - R. Mullins
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/05
PB - bioRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.09.05.749603
UR - https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.05.749603v1
AB - Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Early AMD is characterized by dysfunction in the choroid, including early dropout of endothelial cells and increased deposition of the complement cascade's membrane attack complex (MAC) in the choriocapillaris. In this study, we used a single-cell RNA sequencing-based approach with barcoded antibodies to measure abundance of the MAC and other surface proteins at single cell resolution on RPE/choroid samples from four aged human donor eyes. We included antibodies to detect the MAC, CD34, CD45, and complement regulators CD55 and CD59, in addition to control antibodies. Our analysis of these data revealed cell clusters with expected gene expression profiles and antibody-based detection of CD34 and CD45 congruent with transcriptome-based cell identity. We also detected surface complement regulators CD55 and CD59 across a wide variety of cell types. Across endothelial cells, surface CD55 and CD59 appeared more abundant on venous clusters, and abundance of each was correlated with expression of a third complement regulator, clusterin (CLU). The MAC was detected on a variety of cell types, but was most abundant on the surface of cells in the macrophage family, smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. We confirmed these findings by identifying MAC deposition on choriocapillaris pericytes using immunohistochemistry for MAC, endothelial, and pericyte markers. Ultimately, these data showcase a valuable new approach to analyze gene expression and surface complement in human donor eyes, and provide novel insight into patterns of MAC deposition and complement protection in the aging human choroid.
ER -