Animal Models of Psoriasis: What Can We Learn from Them?

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.