Given the fact that epithelial cell hyperplasia was observed in the saline- but not the α-MSH-treated dry eye corneas (Fig. 4), the α-MSH’s promotion on cell proliferation appears unlikely, although Ki67 or 5-Bromo-2 ́-Deoxyuridine staining is needed to exclude this possibility40. Here, STAMBP is linked to Keratoconjunctivitis sicca.