To assess whether rescuing cilia could restore the capacity for KC ADM cells to respond to Hh signalling, we used qPCR to determine the expression levels of the Hh target gene Ptch1. Following treatment with MLN8237, Ptch1 expression was significantly upregulated in KC ADM cells compared to DMSO-treated controls (Fig. 6A; P=0.0491, n=6), indicating that rescue of ciliogenesis through inhibition of the cilium disassembly pathway enables KC cells to respond to Hh signalling. This evidence concerns the gene PTCH1 and keratoconus.