In a mouse model of hemochromatosis, mutations in a BMP6 co-receptor (i.e., HJV) were found to result in an accumulation of iron in mouse retinal tissues and upregulation of BMP6 along with upregulation of VEGF that resulted in subsequent abnormal vascularization of the retina [57]. The gene discussed is HJV; the disease is hemochromatosis type 1.