title: IL-31-induced pruritus in dogs: a novel experimental model to evaluate anti-pruritic effects of canine therapeutics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pruritus is a characteristic clinical sign of allergic skin conditions including atopic dermatitis (AD) in the dog. IL-31 is a cytokine found in the serum of some dogs with AD and can induce pruritic behaviours in laboratory beagle dogs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objectives were to characterize an IL-31-induced pruritus model by evaluating the efficacy of prednisolone, dexamethasone and oclacitinib, and to compare the speed of anti-pruritic effects of oclacitinib against those of prednisolone and dexamethasone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purpose-bred beagle dogs were used in all studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled studies were designed to evaluate and compare the anti-pruritic properties of prednisolone, dexamethasone and oclacitinib following a single intravenous injection of recombinant canine IL-31. Video surveillance was used to monitor and score pruritic behaviours in study animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prednisolone [0.5 mg/kg, per os (p.o.)] reduced IL-31-induced pruritus when given 10 h prior to observation. When the time interval between drug treatment and observation was shortened to 1 h, dexamethasone (0.2 mg/kg, intramuscular) but not prednisolone (0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced IL-31-induced pruritus. Oclacitinib (0.4 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced pruritus when given 1, 6, 11 and 16 h prior to the observation period, and the anti-pruritic activity of oclacitinib was greater when compared to prednisolone and dexamethasone at all time points assessed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of prednisolone, dexamethasone and oclacitinib in the IL-31-induced pruritus model gives confidence that this may be a relevant model for acute pruritus associated with allergic dermatitis including AD and can be used to evaluate novel compounds or formulations.
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Fleck
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Betsy A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Galvan
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aleo
authors.affiliation: Global Development and Operations, Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mahabir
authors.affiliation: Global Development and Operations, Zoetis Inc., 333 Portage St., Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Jezaniah-Kira
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Tena
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Karen G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Greenwood
authors.affiliation: Global Therapeutics Research, Zoetis Inc, 333 Portage St, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007, USA.
authors.forename: Robert B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: McCall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000982:Antipruritics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004285:Dogs; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000633:toxicity*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000982:Antipruritics; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007378:Interleukins; D011743:Pyrimidines; D013449:Sulfonamides; D003907:Dexamethasone; C588062:oclacitinib; D011239:Prednisolone