Fig 1: Representative confocal microscope images showing immunolabelling for SFRP1 to 5 in central control cornea and KC buttons.Increased cytoplasmic SFRP1 to SFRP4 immunoreactivity was detected in the basal epithelium adjacent to the cone region of KC, when compared to controls. a to c: Increased cytoplasmic SFRP1 staining was detected in the basal epithelial layer in the adjacent to cone region in KC cornea (asterisks, b) compared to the cone region (c) and control cornea (a). d to f: Stronger SFRP2 staining was also detected in the basal epithelial layer in the adjacent to cone region in KC cornea (asterisks, e) compared to the cone region (f) and control cornea (d). Weak SFRP2 staining was detected in the stroma in KC and control cornea (d-f). g to i: Strong SFRP3 cell membrane staining was observed in the superficial epithelial layers in control cornea, weak SFRP3 cytoplasmic staining was observed (g). KC cornea showed strong cytoplasmic SFRP3 immunostaining in both adjacent to cone epithelium (h) and cone region (i). SFRP3 was also detected in the keratocytes of in control and KC cornea. j to l: Strong epithelial cytoplasmic SFRP4 immunostaining was seen in KC, most obviously in the epithelium adjacent to the cone region, compared to controls where no SFRP4 was detected. No SFRP4 was observed in keratocytes. m to o: Epithelial cell membrane and strong stromal SFRP5 expression was observed in both control (m) and KC specimens (n-o). Scale bar = 50 µm.