Charles River conducts contract studies in an established animal model of delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) to test the efficacy of novel anti-inflammatory compounds. Cutaneous sensitization with oxazolone is used to induce a DTH reaction in our model.
Animals are treated with a solution of oxazolone, which derivatizes skin proteins so that they are viewed as foreign by the immune system. Five days later, a challenge with the same agent is applied to one ear, while the test vehicle is applied to the other ear. Re-exposure to the sensitizing agent results in the release of T-cell cytokines such as IFN-γ and IL-17, which initiate a robust inflammatory response by the keratinocytes of the epidermis. Treatment is administered, and the inflammatory response is followed for the next 72hrs by measuring the difference in ear thickness at 24hr intervals. The inflammatory response is dependent on T cells, B cells, basophils and activated macrophages.