Ex Vivo Psoriasis Model Development Services

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, aberrant differentiation, and sustained activation of inflammatory pathways. Effective preclinical models that closely mimic the cellular and molecular features of human psoriasis are essential for evaluating therapeutic efficacy and identifying novel drug targets.

Fig. 1 Representative H&E staining of human ex vivo skin biopsies. (Eberle FC, et al., 2016)

At Ace Therapeutics, we leverage extensive expertise in dermatological research and immunology to provide ex vivo psoriasis model development services.

Overview of Our Ex Vivo Psoriasis Model Development Services

TH17-Driven Ex Vivo Human Psoriasis Model Development Services

Ace Therapeutics supports clients in the development of TH17-driven ex vivo psoriasis models using full-thickness human skin biopsies with subcutaneous fat removed, stimulated with cytokines such as IL-17A, IL-22, and IL-23. By mimicking the physiological conditions of T-cell responses, we induce psoriatic phenotypes characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation, barrier dysfunction, and inflammation in ex vivo models. We also provide services to evaluate the anti-psoriatic efficacy of drug candidates through histological assessment, determination of keratinocyte activation markers, and cytokine release profiling.

Ex Vivo Skin/T Cell Co-culture Model Development Services

Our company offers ex vivo skin/T cell co-culture models to mimic the interactions between immune cells and keratinocytes in psoriasis. Human skin explants are co-cultured with activated T cells in a trans-well configuration. The epidermis is pretreated to disrupt barrier function and trigger PAR2-mediated inflammatory cascades, while T cells are stimulated with cytokines IL-17A and IL-22 to mimic psoriatic inflammation. We also apply ex vivo skin/T cell co-culture models to support both academic research and pharmaceutical development, such as mechanistic studies of psoriasis pathogenesis and the development of anti-psoriatic drugs.

Imiquimod-Induced Ex Vivo Psoriasis Model Development Services

Imiquimod (IMQ), a TLR7/8 agonist, is widely used to induce psoriatic inflammation through activation of innate immune pathways and subsequent induction of the IL-23/IL-17 cascade. We help clients develop imiquimod-induced ex vivo psoriasis models using full-thickness skin explants treated topically with imiquimod. These models recapitulate hallmark features of psoriasis, including epidermal hyperplasia, parakeratosis, and cytokine upregulation. We also use imiquimod-induced ex vivo psoriasis models to assist clients in evaluating the efficacy of small molecules, biologics, and topical agents.

Advantages of Ex Vivo Psoriasis Models

Our company offers a range of ex vivo psoriasis models that offer unique advantages for psoriasis research and preclinical drug development.

• Physiological relevance. We use full-thickness human skin explants that preserve epidermal and dermal architecture, closely maintaining the structural and functional features of psoriatic lesions.
• Immune integration. The ex vivo psoriasis models we develop reproduce the complex immune-epidermal interactions underlying psoriasis pathogenesis by co-culturing human skin explants with T cells or stimulating them with psoriasis-relevant cytokines.
• Flexible applications. We use ex vivo psoriasis models for biomarker discovery, mechanistic studies, and preclinical therapeutic evaluation.
• Comprehensive readouts. We employ multiplex cytokine assays, histological and immunohistochemical analysis, and gene expression profiling, supporting clients in evaluating the anti-psoriatic efficacy of drugs.

Ace Therapeutics is dedicated to providing reliable services for psoriasis research and anti-psoriatic drug development. For more information on our ex vivo psoriasis model development services or to discuss how we can support your research, please do not hesitate to contact us.