Abnormal neovascular and proliferative conjunctival phenotype in limbal stem cell deficiency is associated with altered microRNA and gene expression modulated by PAX6 mutational status in congenital aniridia

Strong dysregulation of key factors at the miRNA and mRNA level suggests that the conjunctiva in aniridia is abnormally maintained in a pro-angiogenic and proliferative state, and these changes are expressed in a PAX6 mutation-dependent manner. Additionally, retinoic acid metabolism is disrupted in severe, but not mild forms of the limbal stem cell deficiency in aniridia.