ITGAX and dry eye syndrome: We have previously shown that exposure to desiccating stress induces rapid production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and that acute proinflammatory cytokine production was associated with increased percentage of CD11c+ antigen presenting cells (i.e. dendritic cells) within the draining cervical lymph nodes by 24 hours post-induction of experimental dry eye [27].