Hypomorphic Mutation in the Hairless Gene Accelerates Pruritic Atopic Skin Caused by Feeding a Special Diet to Mice

    March 2016 in “ Experimental Dermatology ”
    Masanori Fujii, Fumiko Endo‐Okuno, Asuka Iwai, Keisuke Doi, Junko Tomozawa, Shigekatsu Kohno, Naoki Inagaki, Takeshi Nabe, Susumu Ohya
    TLDR A mutation in the hairless gene speeds up severe itchy skin in mice on a special diet.
    The study demonstrated that a hypomorphic mutation in the hairless (Hr) gene was crucial for the development of diet-induced pruritic atopic skin in mice. The research involved five different mouse strains, revealing that HR-1 mice, which carry the Hr mutation, showed earlier onset and greater severity of symptoms when fed a special diet (HR-AD) compared to other strains. The mutation appeared to enhance susceptibility to atopic dermatitis (AD) by increasing vitamin D receptor (VDR) transactivation, especially when combined with dietary deficiencies of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and starch. The study suggested a potential genetic predisposition to AD in Hr mutant mice and highlighted the need for further investigation into the role of HR in human AD and its potential as a therapeutic target.
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