Lab Anim Res.  2010 Mar;26(1):95-102. 10.5625/lar.2010.26.1.95.

A Novel Model for Human Atopic Dermatitis: Application of Repeated DNCB Patch in BALB/c Mice, in Comparison with NC/Nga Mice

• Lee KS
• Jeong ES
• Heo SH
• Seo JH
• Jeong DG
• Choi YK

• KMID: 1458946
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5625/lar.2010.26.1.95

Abstract

The various murine models have contributed to the study of human atopic dermatitis (AD). However limitations of the models involve low reproducibility and long time to develop AD. In an attempt to overcome these limitations and establish an atopic dermatitis murine model, we repeated the application of 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) patch in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice, which has advantages in reproduction and cost. For the sensitization, a 1 cm2 gauze-attached patch, where 1% or 0.2% DNCB was periodically attached on the back of NC/Nga and BALB/c mice. To estimate how homologous our model was with human atopic dermatitis, clinical, histological and immunological alterations were evaluated. Both strains showed severe atopic dermatitis, increase in subiliac lymph node weight, mast cells, epidermal hyperplasia and serum IgE levels. Though both exhibited a high IL-4/IFN-gamma and IL-4/TNF-beta ratio in the expression of mRNA, the shifting of DNCB-treated BALB/c mice was increased to more than double that of NC/Nga mice. These results suggest that our DNCB patched model using BALB/c mice were more suitable than NC/Nga mice in demonstrating the immune response. We anticipate that our novel model may be successfully used for pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis and assessment of therapeutic approaches.

Keyword

Atopic dermatitis; BALB/c; 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB); NC/Nga

MeSH Terms

Animals
Dermatitis, Atopic
Dinitrochlorobenzene
Humans
Hyperplasia
Immunoglobulin E
Lymph Nodes
Mast Cells
Mice
Reproduction
RNA, Messenger
Dinitrochlorobenzene
Immunoglobulin E
RNA, Messenger

Figure

• 

  Figure 1. Schematic diagram of the study protocol. The back of NC/Nga mice and BALB/c were shaved with electric clipper and depilatory cream. 1 cm2-gauze treated 0.1 mL of 2% DNCB and vehicle was placed on a patch, which was attached to the mice twice a week for sensitization. After sensitization, 0.1 mL of 0.2% DNCB and vehicle were used to challenge the animals as the previous sensitization.

• 

  Figure 2. (A) Pictures of the clinical observations on the back of mice. (B) Evaluation of clinical dermatitis induced by DNCB and vehicle. The evaluation of clinical dermatitis was based on the areas of gauze which delivered the DNCB and vehicle. Each column shows the mean±SD of 5 mice.

• 

  Figure 3. Histopathological alterations by DNCB and vehicle. Skins of mice were stained with hematoxylin & eosin (×100, A-D) and toluindine blue (×400, E-H). (A, C, E, G) are vehicle-treated groups and (B, D, F, H) are DNCB-treated groups. ED, epidermis; Dr, dermis; arrow, mast cells. Bar in ×100=200 µm, Bar in ×400=50 µm.

• 

  Figure 4. Quantification of mast cells in dorsal skin of mice treated with DNCB and vehicle. Skin of mice were stained with toluidine blue and the numbers of mast cell in the dermis of the skin were quantitatively analyzed in 5 high power fields (×400) by a computerized image analyzer. Each column shows the mean±SD of 5 mice.

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  Figure 5. Changes in serum total IgE levels. Blood samples were collected from retro-obital venous plexus before treatment with DNCB and at 4 days after the last treatment. Serum IgE was quantified using ELISA. Each column shows the mean± SD of 4 mice.

• 

  Figure 6. Changes in subiliac lymph node weight induced by DNCB and vehicle. The subiliac lymph node approximates to the site, treated by DNCB and vehicle. The weights of subiliac lymph node were measured 8 days after the last treatment. Each column shows the mean±SD of 5 mice.

• 

  Figure 7. Expression of IL-4, IFN-γ and TNF-α mRNA levels in skin painted repeatedly with DNCB and vehicle. Total mRNA was extracted from skin and reverse-transcribed as described in materials and methods. IL-4 (A), TNF-α (B) and IFN-γ (C) mRNA expression were normalized with β-actin. (D) IL-4/TNF-α (white bars) and IL-4/IFN-γ mRNA (black bars). Each column shows the mean±SD of 5 mice.

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