Development of a Micro-Pathology Skin-on-a-Chip Model Mimicking Atopic Dermatitis for Drug Sensitization Assessment

초록

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease marked by impaired barrier function and immune hypersensitivity. Conventional animal models are limited by ethical concerns and biological differences, making accurate evaluation of drug sensitization difficult. To overcome these issues, we established a human cell-based micro-pathology system that replicates the 3D structure and immune environment of skin. The model reproduces AD-like features, including reduced expression of barrier genes (filaggrin, loricrin, involucrin) and increased immune markers (CD54, CD86). This platform enables reliable assessment of sensitizers and may serve as a tool for patient-specific drug safety and efficacy testing.