Animal models of psoriasis and pustular psoriasis.

Investigation of psoriasis and pustular psoriasis is presently hampered by the lack of appropriate animal models. So far, more than ten models have been developed in mice by spontaneous gene mutations and by gene manipulation. However, none of them has satisfactorily reproduced the clinicopathological and immunopathological phenotypes of these diseases. Xenotransplantation techniques have been used for designing models of psoriasis vulgaris, in which CD4(+) T cells have been shown to play an important role. An ideal model for pustular psoriasis should have an immunological background and fulfill the diagnostic criteria of psoriasis.