title: The role of interleukin-17 in mouse models of atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) and contact dermatitis (CD) are both T cell-mediated eczematous disorders. Interleukin (IL)-17, expressed by T helper (Th)17 cells, is involved in recruitment of inflammatory cells into AD and CD skin.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we investigated whether IL-17 regulates immune dysregulation and affects skin barrier in oxazolone (OXA)-induced AD-like and CD-like disease models in mice, by comparing IL-17 null mutant (IL-17(-/-) ) vs. wild-type (WT) mouse strains in the models.
  
  
  METHODS
  IL-17(-/-) and WT Balb/c mice were used for OXA induction of AD-like and CD-like skin diseases. Ear swelling was measured by a micrometer. Skin biopsies were obtained for RNA isolation and histology. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis was performed to quantify mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines. Skin permeability was measured by a vapometer, and structural changes in the skin were evaluated by electron and confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both OXA-induced AD and CD responses were alleviated in IL-17(-/-) mice relative to WT, as demonstrated by reductions in ear swelling, inflammatory cell infiltration and levels of Th2 cytokines. These endpoints were used to characterize inflammatory dysregulation in both AD and CD models. Skin-barrier dysfunction, measured by increases in transepidermal water loss and dysfunction of lamellar bodies, and reductions in lipid distribution, were seen in both AD and CD in WT mice. In IL-17(-/-) mice, however, these responses were significantly diminished.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the IL-17 gene may play a role in modulating immune dysregulation and affecting skin barrier in OXA-induced AD-like and CD-like skin disease models in the Balb/c mouse.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: W I
authors: WI
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: K E
authors: KE
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: J Y
authors: JY
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: M S
authors: MS
authors: Oh
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Y S
authors: YS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: K W
authors: KW
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: K E
authors: KE
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Sohn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004423:Ear; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D020381:Interleukin-17