After KCs were cultured for 5 days, Hmga2 protein could be detected both in the cell membrane (Figure 1Ki), throughout the entire cell (Figure 1Kii) and in the nucleus (Figure 1Kiii), while Hmga2 protein could only be detected in the cell nucleus in KCs (that stained positive for keratin 14, Supplementary Figure 2A) at 12 passage (Figure 1L). Here, TBCE is linked to dry eye syndrome.