Atopic Dermatitis-like skin lesions with IgE hyperproduction and pruritus in KFRS4/Kyo rats

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MLA citation of article:Takashi Kuramoto, Mayuko Yokoe, Daisuke Tanaka, Azusa Yuri, Ai
Nishitani, Yuki Higuchi, Kazuto Yoshimi, Miyuu Tanaka, Mitsuru Kuwamura, Hiroshi Hiai,
Kenji Kabashima, Tadao Serikawa, Atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions with IgE hyperproduction
and pruritus in KFRS4/Kyo rats, Journal of Dermatological Science, Volume 80, Issue 2,
November 2015, Pages 116-123, ISSN 0923-1811,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2015.09.005.
<http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0923181115300451>
In this article rats utilized from a Kyoto Fancy Rat Stock 4 colony were used with the
parental strain of KFRS4 (PVG), to test out if they could be used as an animal model for the skin
disorder Eczema. Since, they had already concluded an experiment on the scratching behavior of
the KFRS4 rats; the scientist wanted to broaden their understanding. Concludingly, their
previous study showed an increase of scratching behavior between the ages of six months and
eight months, so they tested out if this experiment would show the same results. They also
questioned, if the treatments of corticosteroid betamethasone and heparinoid cream would
decrease the effects of Eczema. One question for the experiment was, how will the increase of,
the measurements of water that seeps into the skin and out into the atmosphere (TEWL), affect
the rats obtaining AD. Another question developed was, how the study of microscopic cells
(histology) of the KFRS4 rats will affect the chance of developing AD. More focused questions
were, how severe the skin lesions will become and if the elevated levels of immunoglobulin
E( IgE) cause an increase of AD after all.
To answer these questions, they used a variety of methods. To identify how much the
KFRS4 rats scratch, they set rats the ages of four, six and eight months in a cage for sixty
minutes each and observed. As the KFRS4 rats aged to four months, they were split into groups
of three: one treated with heparinoid cream(2) another with betamethasone(3) and one not
treated(1). Then they observed their scratching behavior, skin lesion score and IgE levels every
four weeks scoring their total skin lesion severity (TSLSS), from zero being none to three being
severe. For them to see any damage to the skin barrier, they shaved the rats and then used a
Tewameter vapo scan that would measure the amount of TEWL. To determine how histology
affects the chance of the KFRS4 rats obtaining AD, they harvested major organs and skin,
stained cells with toluidine blue, incubated frozen sections of KFRS4 rats skin (six month olds)
coated in methanol acetone. Then they treated the skin with a serum and used anti-CD4 and CD8
antibody cells with a DAB kit to identify signals that would be seen later. Finally, to identify the
specific levels of IgE they took blood samples from the tail tips of the rats.
After the experiments were conducted the scientist made significant findings. The study
done on scratching behavior showed that the scratching, increased severely from six months to
eight months in female KFRS4 rats. The explanation for the scratching increase could be
provided by the observations of skin lesions, since the lesions were first found on the lips at four
months and then increased to a level two (mild) at six months of age. Furthermore, proving the
older the rats got, the more severe the rashes got. However, not only did the scratching behavior

show a sex difference in the data, but the IgE levels were shown to be higher in female KFRS4
rats compared to male KFRS4 rats at the same age. Additionally, IgE levels in betamethasone
treated rats (group three) were lower than group one (non-treated) and group three (heparinoid
cream). Also, the histology studies showed that betamethasone worked in treating the KFRS4
rate from ulcerations and skin inflammations not being present in group three but present in the
others. Consequently, the study on both rat groups (PVG and KFRS4) showed that there was an
increase of TEWL with them being five to nine weeks old without the prevalence of AD.
Furthermore, proving TEWL affects the skin barrier, as they found that the skin barrier broke
before any prevalence of AD was observed.
This article provided a detailed description of their experiments and how they conducted
them. They then further implied the importance of their research by providing what they proved
and discovered regarding the experiments. Although, the correlation between the data charts and
the information couldve been more organized. Also, it would be an interesting ordeal if they
could provide information regarding on why the female KFRS4 rats had a higher altercation with
the AD.