α-MSH at different doses decreased the transcript levels of TNF-α and IL-1β (Fig. 2A,B), and increased the levels of IFN-γ (Fig. 2C) in the corneas and conjunctivas of the dry eye rats, suggesting an improvement on the microenvironment on ocular surface by this peptide. The gene discussed is IL1B; the disease is Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.