DEVELOPMENT OF ATOPIC DERMATITIS-LIKE SKIN LESION WITH IGE HYPERPRODUCTION IN NC NGA MICE/

Atopic dermatitis (AD) usually develops in patients with an individual or family history of allergic diseases, and is characterized by chron ic relapsing inflammation seen especially in childhood, association wi th IgE hyperproduction and precipitation by environmental factors, How ever, the exact etiology of AD has been unclear, To further explore th e pathogenesis and treatment of AD, a suitable animal model is require d, We found that skin lesions, which were clinically and histologicall y very similar to human AD, spontaneously appeared on the face, neck, ears and dorsal skin of inbred NC/Nga mice when they were raised in no n-sterile (conventional) circumstances, but not under specific pathoge n-free conditions, Plasma levels of total IgE in conventional NC/Nga m ice were markedly elevated from 8 weeks of age, correlating with clini cal skin severity of dermatitis. Immunohistochemical examination of th e skin lesion showed increased numbers of mast cells and CD4(+) T cell s containing IL-4 necessary for IgE synthesis, Thus, NC/Nga mice suffe red from dermatitis very similar to human AD with IgE hyperproduction, which may be triggered by some environmental factor(s).