Premium
A direct method to determine the strength of the dermal–epidermal junction in a mouse model for epidermolysis bullosa
Author(s) -
Sproule Thomas J.,
Roopenian Derry C.,
Sundberg John P.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
experimental dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.108
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0625
pISSN - 0906-6705
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2012.01482.x
Subject(s) - dermis , epidermolysis bullosa , junctional epidermolysis bullosa (veterinary medicine) , epidermis (zoology) , adhesion , papillary dermis , basement membrane , laminin , pathology , dermatology , medicine , biology , extracellular matrix , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , anatomy , organic chemistry
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) describes a spectrum of rare, incurable, inherited mechanobullous disorders unified by the fact that they are caused by structural defects in the basement membrane zone which disrupt adhesion between the epidermis and dermis. Mouse models provide valuable tools to define the molecular basis of these diseases and to test novel therapeutic approaches. There is need for rapid, quantitative tests that measure the integrity of dermal–epidermal adhesions in such models. To address this need, we describe a novel quantitative method to determine the mechanical strength of the adhesion between tail skin epidermis and dermis. We show that this test reliably measures the force required to cause dermal–epidermal separation in tails of mice that are genetically predisposed to a form of non‐Herlitz Junctional EB which develops as the result of a hypomorphic mutation in the laminin gamma 2 gene ( Lamc2 jeb ). This simple, quantitative method of directly measuring the tensile strength of dermal–epidermal adhesion provides a novel dimension to the pathophysiological screening, evaluation, and therapeutic treatment of mice that may develop progressive forms of EB and potentially other disorders that compromise cutaneous integrity.