Genetics of Fuchs Corneal Dystrophy

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Fuchs corneal dystrophy (FCD) is a degenerative disorder of the corneal endothelium that affects nearly 4% of the population above 40 years of age and accounts for the majority of transplants performed each year in the US. Despite the health and socioeconomic impact of the disorder, knowledge of the underlying mechanism and genetic load is sparse, with the only available treatment being corneal transplant surgery. In this competing renewal, we will extend our previous clinical and genetic studies to a) expand our understanding of the clinical presentation and progression of FCD; b) identify its underlying genetic causes; and c) begin developing in vitro and in vivo models for FCD mutations. Our work consists of three specific aims that draw from the strengths of an interdisciplinary team. First, we will expand our patient collection and quantitatively document progression in families linked to known FCD loci (including two novel loci uncovered by our group in the past year), and investigate hearing loss as a new potential endophenotype of FCD. Second, taking advantage of our unique cohort, which is enriched for large, multigenerational families, we will identify novel genes for FCD using a combination of traditional genetics tools and exon capture coupled to next generation re- sequencing. Finally, we will take advantage of the knock-in mouse model developed recently in our laboratory to understand the cellular basis of familial loss of function mutations in TCF8 in late-onset FCD families. These three aims represent a balance of valuable clinical and genetic analyses coupled with functional experiments designed to dissect the molecular components essential to corneal endothelial biology and understand biochemical and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease pathology. Completion of these studies will significantly enhance our understanding of the genetic basis of this common disorder, offer important new insights into its pathomechanism, and provide critical measures for establishing disease presentation and progression rates, which will be necessary for patient management and for the design of novel therapeutic paradigms.