title: Biphasic increase in scratching behaviour induced by topical application of Dermatophagoides farinae extract in NC/Nga mice.
abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease accompanied by severe itching and eczematous lesion. In this study, we applied an ointment containing Dermatophagoides farinae body (Dfb) extract repeatedly on the dorsal skin of NC/Nga mice with barrier disruption to investigate the characteristics of this murine model of human AD. Following repeated topical application of Dfb ointment twice weekly for 2 weeks, the dermatitis score increased gradually, accompanied by an elevation of total immunoglobulin E level in plasma. Topical application of Dfb ointment also caused epidermal hyperplasia and accumulation of inflammatory cells in the lesional skin and increased expression of T-helper (Th) 1/Th2/Th17 cytokines in axillary lymph node cells. Furthermore, increased sprouting of intraepidermal nerve fibres was observed with an increase in the content of nerve growth factor and decrease in that of semaphorin 3A in the lesional skin. These findings suggest that the characteristics in this model were similar to those observed in patients with AD. Interestingly, it was observed for the first time that scratching behaviour increased in a biphasic fashion by topical application of Dfb ointment in addition to an increase in spontaneous scratching behaviour in this model. It is also suggested that further clarifying the underlying mechanisms of scratching behaviour in this model leads not only to elucidating the pathogenesis of AD but also to discovering novel therapeutic drugs for AD.
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuhki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Aki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanayama
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kido
authors.affiliation: Drug Development Research Laboratories, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.affiliation: Strategic Research Planning & Management Department, Kyoto R&D Center, Maruho Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ishii
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D011537:Pruritus / Q000276:immunology; D040121:Semaphorin-3A / Q000378:metabolism; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016207:Cytokines; D040121:Semaphorin-3A; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor
keywords: atopic dermatitis; cytokines; house dust mites; nerve fibres