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Animal models of psoriasis
Wolf-Henning Boehncke1, Michael P Schön
1Department of Dermatology, University of Frankfurt, D-60590 Frankfurt, Germany. boehncke@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Clinics in Dermatology
|November 21, 2007
Summary
Developing effective psoriasis treatments is challenging due to the lack of ideal animal models. Research utilizes various models, including genetically engineered rodents and human skin xenotransplantation, to study psoriasis pathogenesis and test therapies.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
- Animal Modeling
Background:
- Psoriasis pathogenesis research is hindered by the absence of a suitable animal model.
- Existing models study specific aspects but do not fully replicate the human disease phenotype.
- Various approaches, including genetic manipulation and xenotransplantation, are employed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review general approaches for creating animal models of psoriasis.
- To discuss the features and value of specific psoriasis models.
- To evaluate the utility of these models in drug development.
Main Methods:
- Review of spontaneous mutations and genetically engineered rodent models.
- Immunological reconstitution and xenotransplantation approaches.
- Analysis of manipulations affecting cutaneous homeostasis.
Main Results:
- Animal models offer insights into inflammatory mediators and pathogenic mechanisms.
- Models highlight the roles of innate/adaptive immunity, keratinocytes, and endothelial cells.
- Xenotransplantation models are valuable for studying immune cell roles and preclinical drug testing.
Conclusions:
- Despite limitations, animal models have significantly advanced psoriasis research.
- These models contribute to understanding disease mechanisms and evaluating therapeutic strategies.
- Further development and application of animal models are crucial for psoriasis drug discovery.