International Journal of Medical Laboratory Research (IJMLR)

IMMUNE RESPONSE KINETICS OF THE AFRICAN SPINY MOUSE (ACOMYS PERCIVALI) TO ENDOGENOUS SKIN COMMENSAL INFECTION: "RAPID RESOLUTION OF INFLAMMATION

 

JM. Kimani, JKN Kuria, S G. Kiama, AN. Makanya

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ABSTRACT: The African spiny mouse is a premier mammalian model for scarless cutaneous regeneration. This investigation characterized how its endogenous skin commensals influence acute host immunity, a crucial determinant of tissue repair outcome. Analysis of the dorsal auricular flora identified dominance by a native Coagulase Negative-Novobiocin-Sensitive Staphylococcus (CoNS-NSS) strain. Intradermal challenge with this resident strain elicited an instantaneous, high-magnitude inflammatory response, characterized histologically by subtle cutaneous small vessel vasculitis and fibrin deposits, features pathognomonic for the Arthus reaction. This atypical immediate onset compared to other studies we hypothesize that Acomys percivali maintains a systemic reservoir of high-titer, pre-existing antibodies against staphylococcal antigens, potentially mediated by commensal superantigens influencing local immunity. Quantitative analysis confirmed an accelerated resolution program: neutrophils and macrophages peaked at day 1, followed by statistically significant clearance of macrophages and T-cells by day 14. This rapid inflammatory withdrawal facilitates the complete regression of transient fibroplasia, establishing that controlled, rapidly resolved immune-complex-mediated inflammation dictates scarless regeneration in this species.

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Keywords: Acomys percivali, Regeneration, Coagulase Negative-Novobiocin-Sensitive Staphylococcus (CoNS-NSS), immune-complex-mediated inflammation, vasculitis.

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