Imiquimod-induced psoriasis model: induction protocols, model characterization and factors adversely affecting the model

  • Manahel Mahmood Alsabbagh College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Kingdom of Bahrain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8013-760X

Abstract

Imiquimod-induced psoriasis is widely-employed to study disease pathogenesis and to screen drugs. While the original protocol was published more than a decade ago and has been rigorously used in research since then, a modified protocol was described recently with several advantages including milder systemic manifestations although the disease morphology is highly conserved. Being a toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist, IL-23/IL-17 axis predominates in imiquimod-induced psoriasis. In addition, different immunocytes were described to aggravate or supress the disease. This article aims to review the currently available protocols of imiquimod-induced psoriasis in vivo, to characterize the model as described in literature and to define the five important independent factors adversely influencing the model which researchers should pay attention to.

Published
2023-11-22
Section
Articles