Whole genome expression profiling of normal human fetal and adult ocular tissues

•This is the first whole genome expression analysis comparing human adult and fetal retina/RPE, choroid, sclera, optic nerve and cornea.•This work provides a resource database of the genes, biological functions, and canonical pathways up- or down-regulated during growth and development.•This data set may be used to prioritize candidate genes by providing functional insights they in disease development as well as confirming presence in relevant tissues.

To study growth and development of ocular tissues, gene expression patterns in normal human fetal versus adult eyes were compared. Human retina/retinal pigment epithelium, choroid, sclera, optic nerve* and cornea* tissues were dissected from fetal (24 week gestational age) (N = 9; *N = 6), and adult (N = 6) normal donor eyes. The Illumina® whole genome expression microarray platform was used to assess differential expression. Statistical significance for all comparisons was determined using the Benjamin and Hochberg False Discovery Rate (FDR, 5%). Significant gene expression fold changes > 1.5 were found in adult versus fetal retina/RPE (N = 1185), choroid (N = 6446), sclera (N = 1349), and cornea (N = 3872), but not optic nerve. Genes showing differential expression were assessed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) for enriched functions and canonical pathways. In all tissues, development, cell death/growth, cancer functions, and signaling canonical pathways were enriched. There was also a general trend of down-regulation of collagen genes in adult tissues.