Evaluation of FITC-induced atopic dermatitis-like disease in NC/Nga mice and BALB/c mice using computer-assisted stereological toolbox, a computer-aided morphometric system.
BACKGROUND
The NC/Nga mouse spontaneously develops eczematous atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions when maintained under conventional conditions, but not when kept under specific pathogen-free (SPF) conditions. Hence, there is a need for an AD model in mice housed under SPF conditions, as this is mandatory for research animals in many countries.


METHODS
We evaluated the use of the hapten FITC as an inducer of AD-like disease in NC/Nga and BALB/c mice maintained under SPF conditions. Mice were either untreated or treated with tacrolimus or betamethasone. Using the software Computer Assisted Stereological Toolbox as a stereological method, the mice were sensitized to FITC and the histological efficiency of disease induction with regard to inflammation and CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, in addition to mast cells, was evaluated. The method was validated by comparison to a conventional semiquantitative observer-dependent method.


RESULTS
Our findings prove that FITC does indeed induce AD-like lesions in NC/Nga mice with regard to the histological appearance of the mice. However, when evaluating the immunological response in the affected areas of the mice with regard to the CD4/CD8 ratio and the effect of treatment, we found that the immune response in the NC/Nga mice differed from AD skin lesions in humans in certain aspects.


CONCLUSIONS
These results emphasize the importance of an assessment of not only the histological but also the immunological appearance of the skin when evaluating AD-like disease in mice as a model for AD in humans.
Hvid
Malene
M
Department of Dermato-Venereology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark. malenel@medmicro.au.dk
Jensen
Helene Kofoed
HK
Deleuran
Bent
B
Kemp
Kaare
K
Andersson
Christina
C
Deleuran
Mette
M
Vestergaard
Christian
C
D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate / Q000633:toxicity*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000633:toxicity*; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D012984:Software; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000494:pharmacology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006241:Haptens; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D001623:Betamethasone; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D016559:Tacrolimus