SLC4A11 mutations in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy

The endothelial (posterior) corneal dystrophies, which result from primary endothelial dysfunction, include Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) and congenital hereditary endothelial dystrophy (CHED). Mutations in SLC4A11 gene have been recently identified in patients with recessive CHED (CHED2). In this study, we show that heterozygous mutations in the SLC4A11 gene also cause late-onset FECD. Four heterozygous mutations [three missense mutations (E399K, G709E and T754M) and one deletion mutation (c.99-100delTC)] absent in ethnically matched controls were identified in a screen of 89 FECD patients. Missense mutations involved amino acid residues showing high interspecies conservation, indicating that mutations at these sites would be deleterious. Accordingly, immunoblot analysis, biochemical assay of cell surface localization and confocal immunolocalization showed that missense proteins encoded by the mutants were defective in localization to the cell surface. Our data suggests that SLC4A11 haploinsufficiency and gradual accumulation of the aberrant misfolded protein may play a role in FECD pathology and that reduced levels of SLC4A11 influence the long-term viability of the neural crest derived corneal endothelial cells.