title: Decreased expression of caspase-14 in an experimental model of canine atopic dermatitis.
abstract: Alterations in skin barrier function and filaggrin expression have been reported in atopic dermatitis (AD). Caspase-14, a protease important for filaggrin processing, is decreased in human AD. Atopic Beagle dogs with skin barrier alterations have been validated as model for AD. This study aimed to investigate caspase-14 in normal and atopic Beagle dogs. Skin biopsies from non-lesional and control skin were analyzed for caspase-14 by immunofluorescence. Six images/sections were blindly scored for intensity. Data were tested with unpaired Student's t test. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Caspase-14 was decreased in atopic compared to normal skin both quantitatively (P <0.001) and qualitatively (P = 0.006; agreement = 0.93; consistency = 0.94). In conclusion, caspase-14 is decreased in this model similarly to reports in humans, highlighting the relevance of filaggrin metabolic defects in AD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Dermatology, Springhill UF Health, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 4037 NW 86th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA. Electronic address: Marsella@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marsella
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Springhill UF Health, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 4037 NW 86th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32606, USA.
authors.forename: Vassi
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papastavros
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, 2015 SW 16th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Santoro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D053456:Caspase 14 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D015870:Gene Expression; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C000717249:FLG protein, human; D000091344:Filaggrin Proteins; D007381:Intermediate Filament Proteins; D053456:Caspase 14
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Canine; Caspase-14; Filaggrin