We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Spontaneous scratching behaviour in DS- Nh mice as a possible model for pruritus in atopic dermatitis.
- Authors
Yoshioka, T.; Hikita, I.; Asakawa, M.; Hirasawa, T.; Deguchi, M.; Matsutani, T.; Oku, H.; Horikawa, T.; Arimura, A.
- Abstract
Itching is one of the major clinical symptoms in atopic dermatitis (AD) and complicates the management of this pathological condition. An animal model of AD-like pruritus would contribute to a better understanding of AD and could lead to the development of safe and effective antipruritic agents. DS non-hair (DS- Nh) mice raised under conventional conditions spontaneously develop pruritus, which is associated with a dermatitis similar to human AD. There is a significant positive correlation between disease severity and the period of scratching behaviour in DS- Nh mice. In the present study, we found that levels of histamine and nerve growth factor (NGF) in serum and/or skin tissue were higher in DS- Nh mice with AD-like dermatitis than in age-matched mice without dermatitis. The histopathological data indicated that nerve fibres extend into and mast cells infiltrate the surrounding area of the skin lesion. NGF production by XB-2 cells, which was derived from mouse keratinocytes, was enhanced by histamine via the H1 receptor. We also found that prolonged treatment with an H1-antagonist was effective against pruritus through depression of the production of NGF, which is thought to be generated by keratinocytes. We conclude that DS- Nh mice can serve as a suitable model for gaining a better understanding of pruritus in AD, and that prolonged treatment with an H1-antagonist may be beneficial in patients with AD-associated pruritus.
- Subjects
ATOPIC dermatitis; HISTAMINE; NERVE growth factor; ITCHING; ALLERGIES
- Publication
Immunology, 2006, Vol 118, Issue 3, p293
- ISSN
0019-2805
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02365.x