The soil and the seed: The relationship between Descemet's membrane and the corneal endothelium

Descemet's membrane (DM), the basement membrane of the corneal endothelium, is formed from the extracellular matrix (ECM) secreted by corneal endothelial cells. The ECM supports the growth and function of the corneal endothelial cells. Changes to DM are central to the diagnosis of the most common corneal endothelial disease, Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD). Changes in DM are also noted in systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. In FECD, the DM progressively accumulates guttae, “drop-like deposits” that disrupt the corneal endothelial cell monolayer. While the pathophysiologic changes to corneal endothelial cells in the course of FECD have been well described and reviewed, the changes to DM have received limited attention. The reciprocity of influence between the corneal endothelial cells and DM demands full attention to the latter in our search for novel treatment and preventive strategies. In this review, we discuss what is known about the formation and composition of DM and how it changes in FECD and other conditions. We review characteristics of guttae and the interplay between corneal endothelial cells and guttae, particularly as it might apply to future cell-based and genetic therapies for FECD.