Key factors to establish the ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis minipig model: age and body weight

• Published in: Laboratory animal research 2022, 38(4), , pp.294-301
• Main Authors: Kim, Young Kyu, Lee, JuKyung, Kim, Hyeon-Young, Kim, Sung-Hwan, Hwang, Jeong Ho, Suh, Han Na
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Age/body weight; Atopic dermatitis; Blood vessels; Body weight; Bronchus; Chronic illnesses; Cytokines; Dermal thickness; Dermatitis; Dermis; Disease; Hematology; Histology; Homeostasis; Immune response; Lavage; Leukocytes (neutrophilic); Macrophages; Neutrophils; Ovalbumin; Permeability; Proteins; Skin; Yucatan minipig; 수의학
• ISSN: 2233-7660; 1738-6055; 2233-7660
• DOI: 10.1186/s42826-022-00141-4

BackgroundGiven its similar structure and immune response to the human skin, porcine is a good model for dermal studies. Here, we sensitized ovalbumin (Ova) on minipig back skin for 2–4 weeks to induce chronic atopic dermatitis (AD).ResultsGross observation, serum cytokine level, epidermal thickness, and epidermal integrity did not change after 4 weeks of Ova induction compared with the control, indicating AD modeling failure. Only the neutrophils in the blood and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid changed slightly until 3 or 2 weeks after Ova sensitization, respectively. The successful and failed Ova-induced AD minipig models only differ in age and body weight of the minipigs. The minipigs, 12 months old with a 30-kg median weight, had a two-fold thicker dermis than minipigs 8–10 months old, with an 18.97-kg median weight, resulting in impaired Ova permeability and immune response.ConclusionAge and body weight are key factors that should be considered when developing an Ova-induced AD minipig model.