Pearson J, Denley T, Blubaugh A, Kim SJ, Fogle JE, Leon R, Goss C, Banovic F. Characterisation of the pruritus responses and pruritic behaviours in an interleukin 31-induced canine model of pruritus.
Vet Dermatol 2024;
35:296-304. [PMID:
38149639 DOI:
10.1111/vde.13231]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Intravenous administration of interleukin (IL)-31 in healthy dogs has been used as a model to assess antipruritic drugs. However, there is no known in-depth characterisation of pruritic behaviours, and the repeatability of the IL-31-induced pruritus in the individual dogs is currently unknown.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the immediate/delayed pruritus responses and the pruritic behaviours observed in the IL-31-induced pruritic model in healthy dogs after repeated IL-31 injections.
ANIMALS
Fifteen healthy laboratory beagles.
METHODS
All dogs were video-recorded for 270 min after two intravenous recombinant IL-31 injections (1.75 μg/kg) and vehicle (phosphate-buffered saline, control) injections, respectively; interventions were randomised and performed with a 2 week wash-out period. Two blinded investigators reviewed the pruritic behaviours of all video recordings.
RESULTS
Both canine IL-31 (IL-31_01, IL-31_02) injections significantly increased pruritic seconds and categorical minutes ('YES'/'NO' behaviour per discrete 1 min interval) in healthy dogs compared with both vehicle groups (Vehicle_01, Vehicle_02). The second intravenous canine IL-31 (IL-31_02) administered 14 days after the first IL-31 injection induced a significant increase in pruritic seconds (p = 0.021) and not pruritic categorical minutes (p = 0.231). An increase in pruritic seconds was observed in both IL-31 groups in the first 30 min post-administration, while there was no significant difference between IL-31 and vehicle groups.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
In conclusion, intravenous IL-31 reproducibly induces itch responses in dogs. Future evaluations of the canine IL-31 pruritic model should assess total pruritic behaviours in seconds rather than using a biased 'YES/NO' behaviour per 1 min scoring system.
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