Methods Validation Assessment for Study of Inflammatory Skin Disease

The use of fixed tissue specimens for research studies is attractive, because a large number of relevant specimens can be collected quickly from tissue registry. There is a current lack of knowledge regarding to what extent formalin fixation alters the identification of proteins in the skin with inflammatory dermatoses. This information would be important to assess when determining the limitations (or potentially lack thereof) of using fixed specimens in research.

Collaborators have successfully developed a murine model that can accept human skin xenografts. While those investigators have successfully demonstrated transplantation of healthy skin onto mice, it is unknown whether skin affected by inflammatory disease can be transplanted and, if so, whether the inflammatory skin disease remains, whether it spreads to involve host skin, or whether it resolves. Determining feasibility of transplanting inflamed human skin using this model, as well as observing the course of this inflammation, are the next steps in advancing this potentially invaluable research modality.