Figure 5 [color]: Transcriptome of the choroidal vasculature in infants versus adults.

(A) Bulk RNA sequencing and (B) single-cell RNA sequencing (choriocapillaris cluster) log2 fold-changes for ICAM1 and CD34 between infant and adult samples. Infant (age = 4 days) (C–E) and adult (age = 81 years) (F–H) choroidal tissue sections were dual-labeled with antibodies directed against ICAM-1 (red, panels C & F) and CD34 (green, panels D & G). Infant samples demonstrated minimal ICAM-1 labeling (C) but strong CD34 expression (D), while adult sections exhibited robust ICAM-1 staining (F) but relatively low CD34 expression (G). Of note, RPE lipofuscion autofluorescence was quenched prior to incubation with primary antibodies (see Methods). All treatments, microscope settings and post-processing were identical for all panels. RPE = retinal pigment epithelium, CC = choriocapillaris, CHO = deeper choroid (Sattler’s layer). Scalebar (H) is 10 microns.