Significantly higher levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-12/23p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, IFNα), chemokines (Eotaxin/CCL11; IL-8/CXCL8; MIG/CXCL9; ITAC/CXCL11), growth factors (TGFβ1, EPO, VEGF) and enzyme (angiogenin); and a significant reduction in enzymes such as TIMP1 and NGAL was also observed in KC subjects with a history of eye rubbing (Supplementary Table 8). The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is keratoconus.