Journal article
Characterization of a Novel Mouse Model for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, Vol.65(4), p.18
04/01/2024
DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.18
PMCID: PMC11005065
PMID: 38587441
Abstract
Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a progressive blinding disorder, characterized by increased corneal endothelial excrescences (guttae), corneal endothelial cell loss, and edema. These symptoms are hypothesized to be caused by changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and mitochondrial dysfunction in the corneal endothelium. Despite this clinical and biological relevance, a comprehensive animal model that recapitulates all the major disease characteristics is currently unavailable. In this study, we develop such a model to improve our understanding of the signaling pathways involved in the FECD progression and develop strategies for early intervention.
To generate a comprehensive FECD model, we generated a double mutant mouse bearing tamoxifen-inducible knockdown of Slc4a11 and the Col8a2 (Q455K) mutation. We performed optical coherence tomography (OCT) and in vivo confocal microscopy using the Heidelberg Retinal Tomography 3 - Rostock Cornea module (HRT3-RCM) on the mice at 5 weeks of age before tamoxifen feeding to establish baseline values for corneal thickness, endothelial cell density, and test for the presence of guttae. We measured these parameters again post-tamoxifen treatment at 16 weeks of age. We collected corneas at 16 weeks to perform histopathology, immunofluorescence staining for tight junctions, adherens junctions, and oxidative stress. We evaluated endothelial pump function using a lactate assay.
The double mutant tamoxifen-fed animals showed the presence of guttae, and displayed increased corneal thickness and decreased endothelial cell density. Endothelial cells showed altered morphology with disrupted adherens junctions and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, we found that stromal lactate concentrations were elevated in the double mutant mice, indicative of compromised endothelial pump function.
Overall, this mouse model recapitulates all the important phenotypic features associated with FECD.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Characterization of a Novel Mouse Model for Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
- Creators
- Subashree Murugan - Indiana University BloomingtonViviane Souza de Campos - Indiana University BloomingtonSachin Anil Ghag - Indiana University BloomingtonMatthew Ng - Indiana University BloomingtonRajalekshmy Shyam - Indiana University Bloomington
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Investigative ophthalmology & visual science, Vol.65(4), p.18
- DOI
- 10.1167/iovs.65.4.18
- PMID
- 38587441
- PMCID
- PMC11005065
- NLM abbreviation
- Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
- ISSN
- 1552-5783
- eISSN
- 1552-5783
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/01/2024
- Academic Unit
- Anatomy and Cell Biology
- Record Identifier
- 9984949261902771
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