Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a corneal endothelial disease that causes microenvironment alterations and endothelial cell loss, which leads to vision impairment. It has a high global prevalence, especially in elderly populations. FECD is also one of the leading indications of corneal...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fancheng Sun, Lexie W. Q. Xi, Wesley Luu, Myagmartsend Enkhbat, Dawn Neo, Jodhbir S. Mehta, Gary S. L. Peh, Evelyn K. F. Yim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Cells
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/505
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849738553540476928
author Fancheng Sun
Lexie W. Q. Xi
Wesley Luu
Myagmartsend Enkhbat
Dawn Neo
Jodhbir S. Mehta
Gary S. L. Peh
Evelyn K. F. Yim
author_facet Fancheng Sun
Lexie W. Q. Xi
Wesley Luu
Myagmartsend Enkhbat
Dawn Neo
Jodhbir S. Mehta
Gary S. L. Peh
Evelyn K. F. Yim
author_sort Fancheng Sun
collection DOAJ
description Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a corneal endothelial disease that causes microenvironment alterations and endothelial cell loss, which leads to vision impairment. It has a high global prevalence, especially in elderly populations. FECD is also one of the leading indications of corneal transplantation globally. Currently, there is no clearly defined canonical pathway for this disease, and it has been proposed that the combinatorial effects of genetic mutations and exogenous factors cause FECD. Clinical studies and observations have provided valuable knowledge and understanding of FECD, while preclinical studies are essential for gaining insights into disease progression and mechanisms for the development and testing of regenerative medicine therapies. In this review, we first introduce the proposed genetic and molecular pathologies of FECD. Notably, we discuss the impact of abnormal extracellular matrix deposition (guttata), endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell senescence, and oxidative stress on the pathology and etiology of FECD. We review and summarize the in vitro cell models, ex vivo tissues, and in vivo animal models used to study FECD. The benefits and challenges of each model are also discussed.
format Article
id doaj-art-2ce6122c202244f8b89f881272bec99e
institution DOAJ
issn 2073-4409
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Cells
spelling doaj-art-2ce6122c202244f8b89f881272bec99e2025-08-20T03:06:31ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-03-0114750510.3390/cells14070505Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal DystrophyFancheng Sun0Lexie W. Q. Xi1Wesley Luu2Myagmartsend Enkhbat3Dawn Neo4Jodhbir S. Mehta5Gary S. L. Peh6Evelyn K. F. Yim7Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON NL2 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON NL2 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON NL2 3G1, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON NL2 3G1, CanadaSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, SingaporeSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, SingaporeSingapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore 169856, SingaporeDepartment of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON NL2 3G1, CanadaFuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is a corneal endothelial disease that causes microenvironment alterations and endothelial cell loss, which leads to vision impairment. It has a high global prevalence, especially in elderly populations. FECD is also one of the leading indications of corneal transplantation globally. Currently, there is no clearly defined canonical pathway for this disease, and it has been proposed that the combinatorial effects of genetic mutations and exogenous factors cause FECD. Clinical studies and observations have provided valuable knowledge and understanding of FECD, while preclinical studies are essential for gaining insights into disease progression and mechanisms for the development and testing of regenerative medicine therapies. In this review, we first introduce the proposed genetic and molecular pathologies of FECD. Notably, we discuss the impact of abnormal extracellular matrix deposition (guttata), endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell senescence, and oxidative stress on the pathology and etiology of FECD. We review and summarize the in vitro cell models, ex vivo tissues, and in vivo animal models used to study FECD. The benefits and challenges of each model are also discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/505Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD)pathogenesiscorneal endothelial cells (CEnCs)disease modeling
spellingShingle Fancheng Sun
Lexie W. Q. Xi
Wesley Luu
Myagmartsend Enkhbat
Dawn Neo
Jodhbir S. Mehta
Gary S. L. Peh
Evelyn K. F. Yim
Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
Cells
Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD)
pathogenesis
corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs)
disease modeling
title Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
title_full Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
title_fullStr Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
title_full_unstemmed Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
title_short Preclinical Models for Studying Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy
title_sort preclinical models for studying fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy
topic Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD)
pathogenesis
corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs)
disease modeling
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/7/505
work_keys_str_mv AT fanchengsun preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT lexiewqxi preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT wesleyluu preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT myagmartsendenkhbat preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT dawnneo preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT jodhbirsmehta preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT garyslpeh preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy
AT evelynkfyim preclinicalmodelsforstudyingfuchsendothelialcornealdystrophy