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. 2021 Oct 22;6(20):e151078. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.151078

Figure 1. Deletion of KROX20 protein in epithelial lineage cells results in dry eye–mediated squamous metaplasia of the cornea.

Figure 1

(A–D) Krox20fl/fl;K14-Cre (Krox20-cKO) mice exhibit hyperkeratinization of the cornea. (A and B) Gross images of the eye showing the corneal lesions in mutant mice (Krox20-cKO) compared with control mice (Krox20fl/fl). (C and D) H&E staining of a section of an eye showing a normal corneal surface in Krox20fl/fl controls and squamous metaplasia in the Krox20 mutant mice. (E) Krox20-cKO mice show a worsening corneal phenotype as they age (n = 6). (F–I) Coimmunostaining of K14 with (F) corneal epithelium marker K12 and (G–I) stratified epidermal markers (G) K15, (H) K1, and (I) loricrin in Krox20-cKO mice and Krox20fl/fl littermate controls. n = 26 Krox20fl/fl mice, and n = 39 Krox20-cKO mice. Among mice analyzed, 100% of Krox20-cKO mice developed corneal lesions. Representative images are shown. M, months. Scale bar: 100 μm.