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Evaluation of One-Time Oral Oclacitinib Administration on Pruritic Behaviours After Intradermal
Renato Leon1, Haley Starr1, Frane Banovic1
1Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Background:
Administration of interleukin (IL)-31 to healthy dogs has been used in preclinical drug testing to evaluate the antipruritic effect of novel medications through a "preventative" design approach (i.e., drugs are given before IL-31 administration).
Hypothesis/Objectives:
Develop and validate a "reactive" intradermal IL-31-induced pruritus model in healthy dogs by administering oral oclacitinib.
Animals:
Eight adult, healthy research-bred beagles.
Materials And Methods:
A blinded, randomised, cross-over study. All dogs received either intradermal recombinant canine IL-31 with or without a single dose of oral oclacitinib given afterward; cross-over treatment was administered following a 4-week washout period.
Results:
Oclacitinib reduced the total (p = 0.0252) and local (p = 0.0078) pruritic behaviour seconds after intradermal IL-31 injections. It also reduced the total seconds of scratching (p = 0.0078), chewing/biting (p = 0.0078) and head-shaking (p = 0.0255) behaviours. No significant reduction in licking was observed. Decreases in total pruritic seconds in this "reactive" model following oclacitinib administration were observed at 120-180 min (p = 0.0058), 180-240 min (p = 0.0075) and 240-300 min (p = 0.0241). Likewise, decreases in local pruritic behaviour seconds were observed at 60-120 min (p = 0.0498) and 240-300 min (p = 0.0343).
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
The study established the first "reactive" canine intradermal IL-31 itch model in healthy dogs. One-time oral administration of oclacitinib significantly reduced the incidence of pruritic behaviours. Novel antipruritic medications can be assessed and compared using this "reactive" model in future preclinical trials.
