TLDR Rodent models helped understand psoriasis but none perfectly replicated the disease.
Research into psoriasis was advanced by various rodent models that mirrored aspects of the human condition, such as spontaneous mouse mutations (e.g., asebia, flaky skin, chronic proliferative dermatitis) and transgenic mice overexpressing cytokines (e.g., interferon-γ, interleukin-1α). These models provided insights into the disease's pathogenesis, including the roles of cytokines and immune mechanisms. However, no single model perfectly replicated psoriasis, limiting their use for testing therapeutic compounds. Despite these limitations, the models collectively offered valuable insights into the complex nature of psoriasis.
89 citations,
March 1996 in “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” CD18-deficient mice developed psoriasis-like skin disease, useful for studying inflammatory skin disorders.
36 citations,
October 1996 in “Dermatologic Clinics” Mice are useful for researching human hair loss and testing treatments, despite some differences between species.
86 citations,
December 2001 in “Experimental dermatology” Mutant mice help researchers understand hair growth and related genetic factors.
44 citations,
April 2012 in “American Journal of Clinical Dermatology” Scarring alopecias are complex hair loss disorders that require early treatment to prevent permanent hair loss.
November 2015 in “European Journal of Inflammation” Cicatricial alopecia, a permanent hair loss condition, is mainly caused by damage to specific hair follicle stem cells and abnormal immune responses, with gene regulator PPAR-y and lipid metabolism disorders playing significant roles.
52 citations,
October 2012 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” The document concludes that mouse models are crucial for studying hair biology and that all mutant mice may have hair growth abnormalities that require detailed analysis to identify.
