Bäumer W, Stahl J, Sander K et al. Lack of effect of systematically and topically administered histamine H(1) or H(4) receptor antagonists in a dog model of atopic dermatitis. Experimental Dermatology 2011; 20: 577-581. Abstract
PubMed ID (PMID): 21521369
Reprint: T. Olivry
Comments: this study showed that hydroxyzine, cetirizine and two selective type-4 antihistamines were unable to prevent the development of Dermatophagoides farinae-induced skin lesions in mite-sensitized dogs. In contrast, and not surprisingly, topical triamcinolone spray completely prevented the development of skin lesions.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Yoon JS, Nishifuji K, Sasaki A et al. Alteration of stratum corneum ceramide profiles in spontaneous canine atopic dermatitis. Experimental Dermatology 2011; ePub Jun 7. Abstract
Comments: this paper confirms the existence of a decrease in the quantity of total and some ceramide subclasses in the stratum corneum of atopic compared to that of normal dogs.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Popa I, Remoue N, Hoang LT et al. Atopic dermatitis in dogs is associated with a high heterogeneity in the distribution of protein-bound lipids within the stratum corneum. Archives of Dermatological Research 2011; 303: 433-440. Abstract
PubMed ID (PMID): 21240511
Reprint: I. Popa
Comments: this is an important paper that reports, in the stratum corneum of atopic compared to normal dogs, a decrease in the quantities of free and protein-bound ceramides, a concurrent increase in the amounts of glycosylceramides and a variation in ceramide composition among stratum corneum layers. These results suggest a possible abnormal ceramide metabolic pathway in the stratum corneum of dogs with atopic dermatitis, and that successive waves of inflammation might transiently alter stratum corneum lipid biosynthesis.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Popa I, Thuy LH, Colsch B et al. Analysis of free and protein-bound ceramides by tape stripping of stratum corneum in dogs. Archives of Dermatological Research 2010; 302: 639-644. Abstract
PubMed ID (PMID): 20361334
Reprint: I. Popa
Comments: this is an important article that defines the nature and amount of normal canine stratum corneum ceramides and the similarity between canine and human stratum corneum lipids. Do note that the new nomenclature for ceramides is being used.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Lourenço-Martins AM, Delgado E, Neto I et al. Allergic conjunctivitis and conjunctival provocation test in atopic dogs. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2011; 14: 248-256. Abstract
PubMed ID (PMID): 21733066
Reprint: E. Delgado
Comments: this article provides evidence of the high prevalence of concurrent allergic conjunctivitis in dogs with atopic dermatitis. This is also the first demonstration of the validity of conjunctival provocation tests for the diagnosis of atopic conjunctivitis.
Recommended by: Thierry Olivry, NC State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
Olsson M, Meadows JRS, Truvé K et al. A novel unstable duplication upstream of HAS2 predisposes to a breed-defining skin phenotype and a periodic fever syndrome in Chinese Shar-Pei dogs. PLoS Genetics 2011; 7(3): e1001332. Abstract
PubMed ID (PMID): 2143727
Reprint: open access (click-to-view)
Comments: this is an important article that reports the elucidation of the cause of both Shar-Pei fever and cutaneous mucinosis (now: hyaluronanosis): duplications upstream from the gene HAS2, which encodes the hyaluronic acid synthase 2, result in hyperactivation of the gene and increased hyaluronic acid secretion. The paper is heavy in genetics, but the findings are important to understand the pathogenesis of this breed-specific trait and its association with the recurrent fever syndrome previously identified in this breed.
