Combined Application of Dinitrofluorobenzene and Ovalbumin Induced AD-Like Dermatitis With Upregulated Helper T Cell Cytokines and Prolonged Th2 Response

Abstract Backgroud: Progression of acute-to-chronic atopic dermatitis is accompanied by multiple helper T cell cytokine responses, but the mechanisms and relative importance of these changes remains unclear. There is no animal model for atopic dermatitis that recapitulates these cytokine responses.Objective: We sought to build a novel mouse model for Atopic Dermatitis(AD) that recapitulates these helper T cell responses and some dynamic changes of cytokine responses in the progression of AD.Methods: Female BALB/c mice were subjected to the application of Dinitrofluorobenzene(DNFB) and Ovalbumin(OVA) to induce AD-like dermatitis. Skin lesions and serum were collected from mice of acute and chronic phase to detect the changes of cytokine responses and other features of AD.Results: Combined application of DNFB and OVA successfully induced AD-like dermatitis and histological changes as well as epidermal barrier dysfunction. In acute phase of AD-like dermatitis, Th2-associated cytokines were mainly increased in serum and skin lesions. In chronic phase of AD-like dermatitis,Th2-associated cytokines were still highly expressed, while Th1- and Th17-associated cytokines were also gradually increased. Compared with acute phase, the JAK-STAT signaling pathway was highly expressed in chronic phase of AD-like dermatitis.Conclusion: The combined application of DNFB and OVA could be used to build a new mouse model for atopic dermatitis. This mouse model recapitulates the helper T cell responses and some dynamic changes of cytokine responses in the progression of acute-to-chronic in human AD. JAK-STAT signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the chronicity of AD.