Reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis as a model for Microsporum canis dermatophytosis

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 56; no. 7; pp. 971 - 975
• Main Authors: Tabart, Jeremy, Baldo, Aline, Vermout, Sandy, Nusgens, Betty, Lapiere, Charles, Losson, Bertrand, Mignon, Bernard
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Soc General Microbiol 01.07.2007; Society for General Microbiology; Soc General Microbiology
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cats; Cells, Cultured; Dermatomycoses - microbiology; Dermatomycoses - pathology; Epidermis - growth & development; Epidermis - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infectious diseases; Keratinocytes - microbiology; Life sciences; Medical sciences; Microbiologie; Microbiology; Microsporum - pathogenicity; Microsporum canis; Miscellaneous; Models, Biological; Mycology; Sciences du vivant; Fungi; Infection; Microbiology; Mycosis; Microsporum canis; Models; Fungi Imperfecti; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0022-2615; 1473-5644; 1473-5644
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.47115-0

1 Department of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, B43 Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège, Belgium 2 Laboratory of Connective Tissues Biology, University of Liège, Tour de Pathologie B23/3, 4000 Liège, Belgium Correspondence Bernard Mignon bmignon{at}ulg.ac.be Received 8 December 2006 Accepted 7 March 2007 Microsporum canis is a pathogenic fungus that causes a superficial cutaneous infection called dermatophytosis. The complexity of mechanisms involved in dermatophytic infections makes relevant in vivo studies particularly difficult to perform. The aim of this study was to develop a new in vitro model of M. canis dermatophytosis using feline fetal keratinocytes in reconstructed interfollicular epidermis, and to investigate its relevance in studying the host–pathogen relationship. Histological analysis of reconstructed interfollicular feline epidermis (RFE) revealed a fully differentiated epidermis. A proliferation assay showed replicating cells only in the basal layer, indicating that RFE is a well-stratified living tissue, leading to the formation of a horny layer. Histopathological analysis of RFE infected by M. canis arthroconidia revealed that the fungus invades the stratum corneum and produces SUB3, a keratinase implicated in the infectious process. In view of these results, an M. canis dermatophytosis model on RFE seems to be a useful tool to investigate mechanisms involved in natural M. canis feline infections. Abbreviations: BrdU, bromodeoxyuridine; RFE, reconstructed feline epidermis; RHE, reconstructed human epidermis; SUB3, subtilisin-like protease 3.