Hypomorphic Mutation in the Hairless Gene Accelerates Pruritic Atopic Skin Caused by Feeding a Special Diet to Mice
March 2016
in “
Experimental Dermatology
”
TLDR A mutation in the hairless gene speeds up severe itchy skin in mice on a special diet.
The study demonstrated that a hypomorphic mutation in the hairless (Hr) gene was crucial for the development of diet-induced pruritic atopic skin in mice. The research involved five different mouse strains, revealing that HR-1 mice, which carry the Hr mutation, showed earlier onset and greater severity of symptoms when fed a special diet (HR-AD) compared to other strains. The mutation appeared to enhance susceptibility to atopic dermatitis (AD) by increasing vitamin D receptor (VDR) transactivation, especially when combined with dietary deficiencies of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and starch. The study suggested a potential genetic predisposition to AD in Hr mutant mice and highlighted the need for further investigation into the role of HR in human AD and its potential as a therapeutic target.