Several murine models of DED, including DS-induced DED (43, 44), DS combined with scopolamine to induce suppression of tear production (9), a model in which the LG is removed (45), an experimental autoimmune lacrimal keratoconjunctivitis model (46), as well as CD25−/− and Aire−/− mice that develop Sjögren's syndrome (47, 48) have all demonstrated significantly decreased corneal sub-basal nerve density compared with their respective control mice, irrespective of the model used. The gene discussed is AIRE; the disease is Dravet syndrome.