# Th2 Cytokines Reshape the Transcriptome: Insights from a Canine Organoid Model of Atopic Dermatitis

## TL;DR

This study uses a canine organoid model to show how Th2 cytokines alter gene expression in atopic dermatitis, revealing shared mechanisms with human disease.

## Contribution

The study identifies 69 key differentially expressed genes and their roles in Th2-driven atopic dermatitis using a novel canine organoid model.

## Key findings

- Th2 cytokines (IL-4/IL-13) induce transcriptomic changes in canine epidermal organoids resembling atopic dermatitis.
- Key differentially expressed genes are linked to immune activation, epidermal dysfunction, and lipid metabolism suppression.
- The model reveals shared disease mechanisms between canine and human atopic dermatitis.

## Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) are common allergic and pruritic skin diseases characterized by immune dysregulation and epidermal barrier dysfunction. To delineate how Th2 cytokines contribute to CAD pathogenesis, canine primary epidermal organoids (cPEOs) were established from keratinocytes, and exposure to IL-4/IL-13 induced morphologic changes characteristic of CAD. RNA sequencing analysis comparing IL-4/IL-13-treated cPEOs to untreated controls identified 224 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Further rigorous filtering narrowed this down to 69 key DEGs, with the majority being associated with atopic dermatitis in both dogs and humans. Pathway enrichment analyses demonstrated the activation of immune and inflammatory signalling and suppression of epidermal differentiation, keratinisation, and lipid metabolism, recapitulating key features of atopic skin. Additional Th2-driven alterations included dysregulation of neuro-immune signalling, calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, extracellular matrix remodelling, and metabolic/epigenetic regulations. Together, these findings demonstrate that Th2 cytokines orchestrate multifaceted transcriptomic alterations relevant to AD/CAD. By mapping each key DEG to its known or putative role in AD/CAD, this study also provides a gene-level functional framework to inform future mechanistic studies and targeted therapeutic development. These findings also underscore the value of this model as a comparative tool for investigating both human and canine atopic dermatitis.