Publication Name	World Journal of Stem Cells
Manuscript ID	118621
Country	China

Category	Cell & Tissue Engineering
Manuscript Type	Review
Article Title	Multilayered control of retinal stem/progenitor cell fate in the single-cell and organoid era: Developmental blueprints and regenerative opportunities
Manuscript Source	Invited Manuscript
All Author List	Qi-Qi Xie, Mei-Qi Zeng, Li-Ni Mao, Shi-Jun Han, Da Sun and Zhi-Gang Zheng
Funding Agency and Grant Number	Funding Agency Grant Number Quzhou Municipal Science and Technology Plan Project ZD2022218, ZD2022231
Corresponding Author	Zhi-Gang Zheng, Chief, Head, MD, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People’s Hospital, No. 100 Minjiang Avenue, Quzhou 324000, Zhejiang Province, China. zhengzhigang0710@wmu.edu.cn
Key Words	Epigenetic competence; Human retinal organoids; Metabolic state control; Müller glia; Retinal degeneration; Retinal regeneration; Single-cell multi-omics; Spatial transcriptomics
Core Tip	Retinal degeneration is a structural failure that cannot be reversed by pathway modulation alone. Leveraging single-cell and spatial multi-omics from human retina and organoids, this review defines a multilayer fate-control paradigm - transcriptional instruction, epigenetic permission, and metabolic/inflammatory execution - that governs competence windows and photoreceptor vs inner-retinal outcomes. We compare major regenerative cell sources (retinal progenitors, Müller glia, ciliary marginal zone-like candidates, and human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal pigment epithelium/photoreceptors) and translate atlas insights into actionable engineering strategies, including organoid benchmarking, staged reprogramming, and rational gene + cell combinations to enhance maturation and circuit integration.
Citation	Xie QQ, Zeng MQ, Mao LN, Han SJ, Sun D, Zheng ZG. Multilayered control of retinal stem/progenitor cell fate in the single-cell and organoid era: Developmental blueprints and regenerative opportunities. World J Stem Cells 2026; In press

Received	2026-01-07 03:43
Peer-Review Started	2026-01-07 03:43
First Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-02-12 08:09
Return for Revision	2026-02-12 08:09
Revised	2026-02-22 18:41
Publication Fee Transferred
Second Decision by Editor	2026-03-13 02:45
Second Decision by Editor-in-Chief
Final Decision by Editorial Office Director	2026-03-20 06:22
Articles in Press	2026-03-20 06:22
Edit the Manuscript by Language Editor
Typeset the Manuscript

ISSN	1948-0210 (online)
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