TNF and Schnyder corneal dystrophy: Since SCD is associated with chronic inflammation10,17,18, and inflammation in the intestine can decrease intestinal barrier integrity and increase the antigenic load traversing the intestinal barrier19, we measured mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines Tnfα, IL17, and Ifnγ, and gap junction protein marker genes, claudin 3 and claudin 15 (which have been shown to modulate intestinal barrier integrity19), in small intestine of 6-month-old single-housed male mice.