Molecular Dysregulation in Fuchs Corneal Endothelial Dystrophy

Fuchs内皮角膜营养不良（FECD）是一种致盲性疾病，在美国40岁以上的患者中占4%。 美国的这种情况无法治愈。角膜移植是目前普遍采用的治疗方法。 随着人口老龄化，供体组织越来越稀缺。此外，由于移植失败， 10-25%的角膜移植会发生移植排斥反应。该建议的重点是确定 之前未充分研究FECD中的分子信号传导途径。成功完成具体的 该提案的目标可能导致FECD的替代疗法。

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a blinding disease that affects 4% over the age of 40 in the United States. There is no cure for this condition. Corneal tranplantation is the prevalent treatment. With the aging population, there is increasing scarcity of donor tissues. In addition, tranplant failures due to graft rejections occur in 10-25% of corneal transplantations. This proposal focuses on identifying previously understudied molecular signaling pathways in FECD. Successful completion of the specific aims in this proposal can lead to alternative therapies for FECD.