Development of the tight-skin phenotype in immune-deficient mice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if cutaneous thickening, a major phenotypic feature of the tight-skin (Tsk) mutation, could develop in an immune-deficient mouse.


METHODS
Experimental crosses among different strains of mice were conducted to create mice that were genetically Tsk/+, and that were also homozgyous for a mutation at the Prkdc(scid) locus and thus lacked mature T and B lymphocytes. Skin samples prepared from experimental and control genotypic groups of mice were evaluated for skin thickness.


RESULTS
The data showed that the Tsk/+ mice developed the Tsk phenotype in the absence of a functional immune system.


CONCLUSIONS
Mature T and B cells are not required for the development of the cutaneous thickening in mice carrying the Tsk mutation.
Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, Newington, USA.
T D
TD
Dodig
K T
KT
Mack
D F
DF
Cassarino
S H
SH
Clark
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010641:Phenotype; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*