KLEIP Deficiency in Mice Causes Progressive Corneal Neovascular Dystrophy

PURPOSE. The BTB-kelch protein KLEIP/KLHL20 is an actin binding protein that regulates cell-cell contact formation and cell migration. The aim of our study was to characterize KLEIP’s function in ocular health and disease in mice. METHODS. KLEIP -/- mice were generated, and corneas were examined histologically and stained for keratin-1, loricrin, keratin-12, keratin-14, CD31, LYVE-1, F4/80, E-cadherin, and Ki67. Corneal abrasions were performed after eyelid opening. RESULTS. Corneas of KLEIP þ/þ and KLEIP -/- mice were indistinguishable at birth. After eyelid opening corneal epithelial hyperplasia started to manifest in KLEIP -/- mice, showing a progressive epithelial metaplasia leading to …