發炎及自體免疫
發炎及自體免疫疾病(Inflammation and autoimmune disease):
異常的慢性發炎(chronic inflammation)已被認為是許多慢性病的重要危險因子。長期發炎嚴重時會引發自體免疫疾病。我們有數種誘發性的發炎及自體免疫模式，包括長期灌餵DSS的inflammatory bowel disease model，先注射ovalbumin激化免疫反應後再施用在皮膚上的atopic dermatitis model，先注射collagen激化免疫反應後再注射在軟骨組織的rheumatoid arthritis model，及注射myelin protein誘發的multiple sclerosis model。發炎及疾病嚴重程度可以血液中immunoglobin及促發炎細胞素(proinflammatory cytokines)濃度，免疫細胞活化程度，及組織中免疫細胞浸潤(immune cell infiltration)加以評估。目前提供的模式動物有：
| Disease | Model | Phenotype |
| IBD | DSS-induced | Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) is a sulfated polysaccharide with variable molecular weights. Administration of DSS causes human ulcerative colitis-like pathologies due to its toxicity to colonic epithelial cells, which results in compromised mucosal barrier function. Clinical observations similar to human pathologies, such as weight loss, diarrhea and occult blood in stool, are commonly observed and measured in the DSS model (from Charles River). |
| Atopic dermatitis* | OVA-induced | The ovalbumin-induced atopic dermatitis model is induced either by a topical application or systemic administration of ovalbumin (sensitization) followed by topical application or intradermal injection of ovalbumin (challenge; usually seven days later) to the ear which will result in an inflammatory response. Ear swelling is measured using digital callipers to monitor the inflammatory response. Topical application of ovalbumin results in Th1 immune response while systemic ovalbumin administration induces a Th2 dominant inflammatory profile (from Charles River). |
| RA* | Collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) | CIA animals were immunized by intradermal injection of bovine type II collagen with complete Freund's adjuvant followed by a booster. Rheumatoid cachexia was evaluated by body weight change (%), food intake (g), fatigue (by endurance exercise performance in minutes), grip strength (g), locomotion (cm) and relative muscle weight (muscle weight in mg divided by total animal weight g). |
