A novel model of dermatomyositis induced by membrane antigen and calciphylaxis in rats.
Biomed Rep 2022;
16:31. [PMID:
35251618 PMCID:
PMC8889541 DOI:
10.3892/br.2022.1514]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermatomyositis (DM) is a severe autoimmune disease of the connective tissue characterized by inflammatory and degenerative changes in the skin and muscle. However, the lack of experimental models of DM represents a challenge for the development of effective drugs. The aim of the present study was to establish a pharmacodynamic rat model of DM that would recapitulate the clinical manifestation seen in patients. The DM model was established using membrane antigen-induced autoimmune injury, followed by toxin-induced subcutaneous calciphylaxis. The rats were divided into five groups and were subcutaneously injected with membrane antigen. Of these, four antigen-immunized groups then received dihydrotestosterone (DHT), iron-dextrin (Fe-Dex), polymyxin (PMX) either individually or in combination to induce cutaneous calciphylaxis. The clinical manifestation score, ratio of infiltrated lymphocytes, ratio of arteriole calcified nodules in skeletal muscles, serum antibody levels [anti-histidyl tRNA synthetase (Jo-1) and anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5)] and serum cytokine levels [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)] were then detected. The results demonstrated that all five autoimmune groups displayed local cutaneous swelling and weakness, increased serum antibody and cytokine levels, and T lymphocyte infiltration in perimysial and perivascular sites. Moreover, pathological changes indicative of calciphylaxis were observed in the PMX and DHT + Fe-Dex + PMX. Among all groups, the rats in the PMX and DHT + Fe-Dex + PMX displayed characteristics most closely resembling those of DM pathogenesis in patients. In conclusion, membrane antigen immunization combined with toxin-induced calciphylaxis can be used as a DM model in rats. This model may be used for the development of effective drugs for DM treatment.
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