Impairment of skin barrier function in NC/Nga Tnd mice as a possible model for atopic dermatitis

✍ Scribed by A. Aioi; H. Tonogaito; H. Suto; K. Hamada; C. Ra; H. Ogawa; H. Maibach; H. Matsuda

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 518 KB
• Volume: 144
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0007-0963
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2133.2001.03946.x

✦ Synopsis

Background:

The pathogenesis and aetiology of atopic dermatitis (ad) remain unclear. establishment of suitable animal models should aid elucidation of the pathogenesis and development of therapy.

Objectives:

We focused on biophysical and biochemical parameters in the skin of nc/nga tnd mice to evaluate similarities to and differences from ad.

Methods:

Biophysical (transepidermal water loss and skin surface conductance) and biochemical parameters (ceramide contents and activity of ceramide-metabolizing enzymes) were measured in nc/nga tnd mice in which spontaneous dermatitis appeared under ambient laboratory conditions (alc).

Results:

Biophysical parameters suggested impairment of water retention properties and barrier function. the amount of ceramide in nc/nga tnd mice under alc decreased significantly. these dermatological features resembled those of ad, as did the clinical signs and histological changes.

Conclusions:

The results described here and previous immunological studies on ad suggest that the nc/nga tnd mouse may be a suitable model for certain aspects of ad.