Stratum corneum removal facilitates experimental sensitization to mite allergens in atopic dogs

Abstract

In humans with atopic dermatitis and in mouse models of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, evidence is mounting that the stratum corneum (SC) provides an important barrier against environmental allergens. At this time, it is not known whether the SC has a similar role in dogs, especially in those with atopic dermatitis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine whether SC removal led to earlier and stronger sensitization of atopic dogs to Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) house dust mites. Five Maltese-beagle atopic (MBA) dogs were sensitized epicutaneously after the SC was removed with ten tape strips (TS group), while sensitization was done without tape strips in five other MBA dogs (nontape stripping; NTS group). During this 16 week study, sensitization was assessed with allergen-specific IgE serology, intradermal testing with Df allergens and determination of stimulation indices of blood mononuclear cells cultured with Df and stained for CD4 and the activation markers CD25 or CD30. Compared with dogs from the NTS group, those of the TS group exhibited earlier rises in Df-specific IgE serum levels, usually had higher allergen-specific IgE titres, showed higher intradermal test reactivity and had earlier increases and higher percentages of CD25- or CD30-positive activated allergen-specific peripheral CD4-positive T lymphocytes. These observations implicate a role of the SC as a barrier limiting sensitization to exogenous allergens in this experimental atopic dog model.

Expression patterns of superficial epidermal adhesion molecules in an experimental dog model of acute atopic dermatitis skin lesions

“…Corneodesmosin, as it covers lower SC desmosomes, prevents their early proteolytic digestion by proteases released from lamellar bodies in the upper stratum granulosum; this function of CDSN prevents an early SC desquamation . Given that SC removal facilitates allergen sensitization in dogs as in other species, the HDM‐associated degradation of CDSN staining could, hypothetically, lead to an early SC desquamation and secondarily increase allergen penetration and development of sensitization.…”

The novel high molecular weight Dermatophagoides farinae protein Zen‐1 is a major allergen in North American and European mite allergic dogs with atopic dermatitis

“…We also included sera from 15 laboratory dogs (six beagles, nine Maltese‐beagle atopic dogs) sensitized to Df HDM by repeated epicutaneous application of lyophilized ground mites . In all of these dogs, hypersensitivity to this allergen had been confirmed beforehand by positive allergen specific intradermal testing (IDT) and/or IgE serology done at regional commercial laboratories.…”

Characterization of the canine skin barrier restoration following acute disruption by tape stripping

“…In a recent study, Olivry et al. 17 reported that performing TS in atopic dogs removed the SC and facilitated experimental sensitization to mite allergens. Finally, Ohmori et al.…”