Atopic Dermatitis – Preclinical Models of Chronic Skin Inflammation

Atopic Dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by intense itching, eczematous lesions, and a disrupted skin barrier. The disease is driven by a complex interplay between genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and immune dysregulation—particularly involving Th2 cytokines such as IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, as well as Th1 and Th17 responses in chronic phases.

Redoxis offers in vivo models of AD that replicate key features of human disease, including skin inflammation, epidermal hyperplasia, and elevated IgE levels. These models are suitable for evaluating topical and systemic treatments targeting immune pathways, skin barrier function, or pruritus.

Atopic Dermatitis Models

The oxazolone-induced model is a well-characterized murine model of atopic dermatitis, induced by repeated topical application of oxazolone to the ears or dorsal skin of sensitized mice. The model mimics key clinical and immunological features of human AD, including epidermal thickening, inflammatory infiltrates, and a Th2-skewed cytokine profile.

Key Features:

  • Induced by repeated topical oxazolone application
  • Reproduces chronic dermatitis with erythema, edema, and thickening
  • Th2-dominant immune response with elevated IL-4, IL-13, and IgE
  • Suitable for evaluating topical treatments and systemic immune modulators
  • Compatible with histology, cytokine profiling, and flow cytometry
  • Allows assessment of ear thickness, barrier integrity, and immune cell infiltration

The MC903 model is based on topical application of calcipotriol (MC903), a vitamin D3 analog, which induces robust Th2-type inflammation in the skin. The model is widely used for studying the pathogenesis of AD and testing anti-inflammatory or barrier-restoring therapies.

Key Features:

  • Topical application of MC903 (calcipotriol)
  • Induces Th2-type dermatitis with eczematous lesions
  • Elevated IL-4, IL-13, and eosinophilic infiltration
  • Rapid onset with well-defined scoring endpoints
  • Suitable for short-term efficacy testing and mechanistic studies

Readouts and Assay Capabilities

Redoxis supports a wide range of customizable readouts for AD studies, including:

  • Histopathological analysis of skin inflammation and epidermal thickness
  • Serum IgE measurement and Th2 cytokine profiling (Luminex/ELISA)
  • Flow cytometry of skin-infiltrating and draining lymph node cells
  • Ex vivo restimulation assays to evaluate immune modulation
  • Assessment of skin barrier function and pruritus-related behavior

These models provide reliable, translational platforms for evaluating therapeutic strategies in atopic dermatitis, whether targeting cytokine signaling, immune modulation, or skin barrier restoration. Contact us to discuss model selection or design a study tailored to your compound.

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Inquiries? Questions?

Nina Woodworth

COO