Psoriasis is a type of skin disease characterized by hyperproliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. It is thought to be mediated by cells and molecules of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, as a result of a combination of genetic, and environmental influences. The most common model of skin injury and inflammation used in preclinical studies is an imiquimod (IMQ) -induced skin injury and inflammation model, which has phenotypes similar to human psoriasis. IMQ causes skin damage in mice, including rash and desquamation, thickening of the skin epidermis, and histopathologically visible dermis dominated by hypokeratosis and inflammatory leukocyte infiltration. IL-17 cytokine levels are significantly increased in the IMQ-induced psoriasis model, which is considered particularly important in psoriasis pathogenesis.      

Biocytogen constructed a series of IMQ-induced psoriatic mouse models for preclinical studies and pharmacodynamic evaluation of psoriasis-related drugs targeting human cytokines.

Experimental Animals：C57BL/6 or Balb/c, 8 weeks old, female

Modeling reagent：IMQ

Modeling method： Topically applicated on dorsal for  consecutive 5-8 days, depends on the mouse strain.

Clinical assessment

IMQ-induced skin inflammation in mice phenotypically resembles psoriasis. (A) Phenotypical presentation of mouse dorsal skin after 4 days of treatment. (B-D) Erythema and scaling score of the dorsal was scored daily on a scale from 0 to 4. Additionally, the cumulative score (erythema plus scaling) is depicted. Results indicated that structural features of IMQ-induced skin inflammation was visible and increased in severity up to Day 4 then decreased. Mice shaved and treated daily with control cream did not show any sign of inflammation.

IMQ induces keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration. (A) H&E staining of the dorsal skin. (B) Epidermal thickness measurement. (C) Histologic score. The epidermal thickness of mice in the IMQ application group was significantly increased compared with the control group, and pathological observations indicate that IMQ caused psoriasiform skin lesions and inflammation .

Dose dependent effects of Dexamethasone (DXM) on keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in IMQ induced C57BL/6 psoriasis mice. Dorsal skin was collected at the endpoint and stained with Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). (A-E) H&E staining of the back skin. (F) Epidermal thickness of the mice. (G) Histological changes were scored on a scale from 0 to 11. Results indicated that IMQ cream significantly induced psoriasis-like skin lesions. Therapeutic effects of DXM on psoriasis-like skin lesions in C57BL/6 mice were dose dependent. This model could be used to evaluate the drug efficacy for treating psoriasis.

Dexamethasone inhibited keratinocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the C57BL/6 mouse psoriasis model. (A,B) H&E staining of dorsal skin. (C) Mouse epidermal thickness. (D) Histopathology score. The results indicate that dexamethasone prevented psoriasis-like injury and skin inflammation in C57BL/6 mice in a dose-dependent manner.

Product list

References

1. van der Fits, L. et al. Imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation in mice is mediated via the IL-23/IL-17 axis. J Immunol 182, 5836-5845.

2. Schuler, R. et al. Antagonization of IL-17A Attenuates Skin Inflammation and Vascular Dysfunction in Mouse Models of Psoriasis. J Invest Dermatol 139, 638-647.