Animal models of psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a common and chronic skin disorder under active investigation around the world. Despite this, determination of its genetic basis, role of the immune system in the disease pathophysiology and development of effective therapy, have been hampered severely by the absence of any spontaneous psoriatic skin disease in animals. Furthermore, until recently, validated animal models designed to create psoriasis were unavailable to investigative skin biologists and clinical scientists. However, there is at least one animal model which has been established and validated; it uses human skin engrafted on to severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. In addition, there are several other rodent models which do not involve transplantation technology that share some (but not all) features in common with psoriasis. This review will summarise these available animal models and critique their relevance with respect to illuminating the immunogenetic basis of psoriasis and their value in screening novel treatments in a preclinical setting.