Bulk gene expression deconvolution reveals infiltration of M2 macrophages in retinal neovascularization

Abstract

PURPOSE. This study interrogated the transcriptional features and immune cellular landscape of the retinae of rats subjected to oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS. Bulk RNA sequencing was performed with retinal RNA isolated from control and OIR rats. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was undertaken to identify gene sets associated with immune responses in retinal neovascularization. Bulk gene expression deconvolution analysis by CIBERSORTx was performed to identify immune cell types involved in retinal neovascularization, followed by functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Protein–protein interaction analysis was performed to predict the hub genes re..