IL-31 dog pruritus model
An IL-31 dog pruritus model is provided. This model comprises administering canine IL-31 to dogs to produce a pruritic response; quantitatively measuring pruritic responses in the dogs which were administered canine IL-31; administering a candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor; and assessing the effectiveness of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor in reducing prurtic behavior in the treated dogs by challenging the dogs with canine IL-31 following the administration of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor.
1. A method of evaluating anti-pruritic effects of canine therapeutics comprising:
administering canine IL-31 to dogs to produce a pruritic response;
quantitatively measuring pruritic responses in the dogs which were administered canine IL-31;
administering a candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor;
assessing the effectiveness of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor in reducing prurtic behavior in the treated dogs by challenging the dogs with canine IL-31 following the administration of the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the canine IL-31 is recombinant canine IL-31.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the recombinant canine IL-31 has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the canine IL-31 is administered parenterally.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the canine IL-31 is administered at a dose of 1 to 1.5 pg/kg.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pruritic response is a transient response.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transient pruritic response lasts less than 24 hours.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the pruritic responses in the dogs are selected from the group consisting of licking, chewing, scratching, head-shaking, and scooting.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein pruritic behavior measurements are performed using real-time video surveillance using a categorical scoring system.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein at consecutive time intervals, “yes/no” decisions are made in regards to whether puritic behavior was displayed by each dog.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the consecutive time intervals are 1 minute intervals.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein at the end of a designated observation period, the numbers of yes determinations are added together to come up with a cumulative Pruritic Score Index (PSI).
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein a first PSI measurement is a baseline score measured immediately prior to the canine IL-31 challenge.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein an additional PSI measurement is determined following the canine IL-31 challenge.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor is an antibody that specifically binds to canine IL-31.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antibody specifically binds to a canine IL-31 having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 32.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the antibody is a monoclonal antibody.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is caninized or felinized.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the candidate dog IL-31 inhibitor is administered parenterally.