Single-cell RNA-seq of corneal epithelial cells

Stem cells are essential for maintaining homeostasis and regenerating damaged tissue. In the corneal epithelium, the location and molecular markers of corneal epithelial stem cells are not fully understood. Recent advances in single-cell RNA sequencing has offered unprecedented opportunity to unveil transcriptional differences across corneal cell types. We report the application 10x Genomics Chromium technology for high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing of transparent central corneal epithelium, and identified a cluster of facultative stem/progenitor cells that exhibits colony-forming ability and self-renewal capacity. This study provides new insight into facultative adult stem cell biology.