HISTOLOGICAL AND IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF HUMAN PSORIATIC LESIONS TRANSPLANTED ONTO SCID MICE

To investigate the pathology of psoriasis, we developed an animal mode l for this disease using severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. These mice possess neither B nor T Lymphocytes so that both cellular and humoral immunities are impaired. For the in vivo study of psoriasi s, human psoriatic skin was grafted on SCID mice. Long-term morphologi cal and immunohistochemical changes in the grafted skin ware examined for up to 22 weeks after transplantation. The human skin graft were ge nerally well maintained during this period, but the histological and i mmunohistochemical findings characteristic of psoriasis, except for ac anthosis and hyperkeratosis, gradually disappeared as lymphocytic infi ltration of the psoriatic lesions declined. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.