PAX6 and hydrops fetalis: The present findings provide further evidence that soluble and matrix-associated limbal niche factors, that is, CM derived from stromal fibroblasts and laminin-5, can also induce transdifferentiation of murine vibrissa HF-derived adult stem cells into a corneal epithelial-like phenotype, as indicated by upregulation of K12/Pax6 expression and cellular morphology.