Table 3. Summary of novel candidate genes.

Candidate genes for eight novel loci identified in the multi-ancestry meta-analysis for FECD.

Novel candidate gene	Putative function
SSBP3	Likely binds to polypyrimidine promoter of COL1A2, regulating transcription.
THSD7A	Regulation of endothelial cell migration and adhesion via binding of integrin αvβ3.
LAMB1	Beta-1 subunit of laminin-511, component of basal lamina.
CDC151; PIDD1	Global regulator of endothelial cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion; may have a role in regulating corneal endothelial cell death via apoptosis.
RORA	Member of retinoic acid-related orphan receptors (RORs) family, which play a role in embryonic development of the eye.
HS3ST3B1	Regulates heparan sulfate, which may have a role in corneal homeostasis.
LAMA5	Alpha-5 subunit of laminin-511, component of basal lamina.
COL18A1	Collagen type XVIII subunit, is cleaved to form endothelial cell regulator endostatin.