Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the expression of estrogen receptors (ER) α and β at the endothelium of the cornea in patients with Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD).
Methods :
Patients with FECD who underwent DMEK at the University Hospital Cologne, Center for Ophthalmology, between January 2023 and May 2023 were included in the study For the expression analyses of ER α and β, endothelin (ET)-1, fibronectin, vimentin(VIM)FL, and VIM3, the surgically obtained tissue samples were used in the context of a routinely performed Triple-DMEK (Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty). Corneal samples from traumatic corneal perforations were used as a comparative cohort. RNA- extraction paraffin embedded tissues and quantitative Real.Time PCR (qRT-PCR) as well as immunhistochemical analyses have been performed. For statistical analysis, the GraphPad Prism 5 program was used. Significant differences were calculated and indicated by stars (* p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001).
Results :
ER α and ß as well as ET-1 showed a twofold significance in qRT-PCR and were showed a positive staining in IHC. Fibronectin, VIMFL, and VIM3 were detected at the mRNA level and by immunohistochemistry in patients with FECD.
Conclusions :
Our study is a first description of ERα and ß in patients with FECD, which are highly significantly expressed at the endothelium of those patients. ER ß leads to an increase of ET-1, which is also revealsed for the first time, which may be a further target point in the lymphangiogenesis in patients with FECD. Fibronectin, VIMFL and VIM3 was more pronounced in patients with a histologically visible fibrillar layer. In consequence, our study describes a novel pathway in FECD, which enable possible new therapeutic target points.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.