Modulation of ATM enhances DNA repair in G2/M phase of cell cycle and averts senescence in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD) is an aging disorder characterized by expedited loss of corneal endothelial cells (CEnCs) and heightened DNA damage compared to normal CEnCs. We previously established that ultraviolet-A (UVA) light causes DNA damage and leads to FECD phenotype in a non-genetic mouse model. Here, we demonstrate that acute treatment with chemical stressor, menadione, or physiological stressors, UVA, and catechol estrogen (4-OHE), results in an early and increased activation of ATM-mediated DNA damage response in FECD compared to normal CEnCs.