Szabina Horváth1,2, Ágnes Kemény2,3,4, Erika Pintér2,3, Rolland Gyulai1. 1. Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Oncodermatology, University of Pécs Clinical Center, Pécs, Hungary. 2. János Szentágothai Research Center, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary. 3. Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary. 4. Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Abstract
The expanding number of research studies utilizing the imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis model attests to the usefulness of this procedure. Advantages of this model include rapid development of the skin response and cost-effectiveness. A major limitation is that application of imiquimod cream over large areas of skin, as well as licking and ingestion of the cream, may lead to severe systemic inflammation, which can cause a general decline in health, splenomegaly, and death. In this protocol, Finn chambers are used to localize the imiquimod cream to a small area of the skin. This results in production of severe and reproducible psoriatic skin reactions with significantly less imiquimod, greatly reducing the possibility of untoward systemic effects. Moreover, having psoriasiform and control skin areas on the same mice decreases inter-animal differences. The protocol can be readily adapted for other skin disease models involving topical application of test agents. This article also details functional measurements performed during assays, including skin thickness, blood perfusion, semiquantitative histopathological evaluation, determination of scaling score to monitor psoriatic symptoms, and collection of spleen and body weight data to identify systemic effects.
The expanding number of research studies utilizing the imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis model attests to the usefulness of this procedure. Advantages of this model include rapid development of the skin response and cost-effectiveness. A major limitation is that application of imiquimod cream over large areas of skin, as well as licking and ingestion of the cream, may lead to severe systemic inflammation, which can cause a general decline in health, splenomegaly, and death. In this protocol, Finn chambers are used to localize the imiquimod cream to a small area of the skin. This results in production of severe and reproducible psoriatic skin reactions with significantly less imiquimod, greatly reducing the possibility of untoward systemic effects. Moreover, having psoriasiform and control skin areas on the same mice decreases inter-animal differences. The protocol can be readily adapted for other skin disease models involving topical application of test agents. This article also details functional measurements performed during assays, including skin thickness, blood perfusion, semiquantitative histopathological evaluation, determination of scaling score to monitor psoriatic symptoms, and collection of spleen and body weight data to identify systemic effects.
Authors: Tamara Moreno-Sosa; María Belén Sánchez; Elisa Olivia Pietrobon; Juan Manuel Fernandez-Muñoz; Felipe Carlos Martín Zoppino; Flavia Judith Neira; María José Germanó; Diego Esteban Cargnelutti; Alicia Carolina Innocenti; Graciela Alma Jahn; Susana Ruth Valdez; Juan Pablo Mackern-Oberti Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2021-04-29 Impact factor: 7.561