Psoriasis
Dysregulation of Akt-FOXO1 Pathway Leads to Dysfunction of Regulatory T Cells in Patients with Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a T lymphocyte–driven systemic inflammatory disease. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for establishing and maintaining immune tolerance. In this study, we found that patients with psoriasis and healthy controls had comparable percentages of circulating CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs, but psoriatic Tregs had reduced suppressive function. Thereafter, mRNA arrays were performed to study the gene expression profile of psoriatic Tregs. Psoriatic Tregs expressed high levels of a T helper type 1–like transcription factor and cytokines such as T-bet and IFN-γ.Mechanical Stretch Exacerbates Psoriasis by Stimulating Keratinocyte Proliferation and Cytokine Production
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune skin disease that often occurs in rubbed areas undergoing a strong mechanical stretch, such as the elbows and knees. However, the pathologic role of mechanical tension in psoriasis remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the contribution of keratinocyte mechanical stretch to the clinical features of psoriasis. We found that keratinocyte proliferation and skin barrier-associated gene expression increased significantly after 24 hours of continuous stretching.Caspase 1/11 Deficiency or Pharmacological Inhibition Mitigates Psoriasis-Like Phenotype in Mice
Inflammatory caspases, activated within the inflammasome, are responsible for the maturation and secretion of IL-1β/IL-18. Although their expression in psoriasis was shown several years ago, little is known about the role of inflammatory caspases in the context of psoriasis. Here, we confirmed that caspases 1, 4, and 5 are activated in lesional skin from psoriasis patients. We showed in three psoriasis-like models that inflammatory caspases are activated, and accordingly, caspase 1/11 invalidation or pharmacological inhibition by Ac-YVAD-CMK (i.e., Ac-Tyr-Val-Ala-Asp-chloromethylketone) injection induced a decrease in ear thickness, erythema, scaling, inflammatory cytokine expression, and immune cell infiltration in mice.Potentiation of Psoriasis-Like Inflammation by PCSK9
Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease, associated with metabolic disorders, including high level of low-density lipoprotein. PCSK9, which promotes the degradation of low-density lipoprotein receptors and, therefore, the increased concentration of circulating low-density lipoprotein, is also involved in inflammation. This study aims to examine the role of PCSK9 in psoriasis and to investigate the potential of topically applying small interfering RNA targeting Pcsk9 as a psoriasis treatment.Is CCR6 Required for the Development of Psoriasiform Dermatitis in Mice?
Intradermal injection of IL-23 and topical application of imiquimod (IMQ) are two widely adopted murine models of psoriasis. Both models result in psoriasiform dermatitis (PsD) in mice that resembles human psoriasis (van der Fits et al., 2009; Zheng et al., 2007). CCR6 is important for epidermal trafficking of IL-17/22–producing cells (Mabuchi et al., 2013) and is required for the development of PsD in the IL-23 injection model since CCR6-deficient knockout (CCR6KO) mice fail to show significant dermal inflammation (Hedrick et al., 2009).Extracellular ATP and IL-23 Form a Local Inflammatory Circuit Leading to the Development of a Neutrophil-Dependent Psoriasiform Dermatitis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease dependent on the IL-23/IL-17 axis, a potent inflammatory pathway involved in pathogen clearance and autoimmunity. Several triggers have been proposed as initiators for psoriasis, including alarmins such as adenosine triphosphate. However, the role of alarmins in psoriasis pathogenesis and cutaneous inflammation has not been well addressed. Studies show that signaling through the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) pathway underlies the development of psoriasiform inflammation.CARD14 Gain-of-Function Mutation Alone Is Sufficient to Drive IL-23/IL-17–Mediated Psoriasiform Skin Inflammation In Vivo
Rare autosomal dominant mutations in the gene encoding the keratinocyte signaling molecule CARD14, have been associated with an increased susceptibility to psoriasis, but the physiological impact of CARD14 gain-of-function mutations remains to be fully determined in vivo. Here, we report that heterozygous mice harboring a CARD14 gain-of-function mutation (Card14ΔE138) spontaneously develop a chronic psoriatic phenotype with characteristic scaling skin lesions, epidermal thickening, keratinocyte hyperproliferation, hyperkeratosis, and immune cell infiltration.Eosinophils Accelerate Pathogenesis of Psoriasis by Supporting an Inflammatory Milieu that Promotes Neutrophil Infiltration
Eosinophils are proinflammatory granulocytes that are involved in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory reactions. However, their roles in psoriasis remain largely unknown. In this study, by examining the inflammatory features of the eosinophilic cell line EoL-1 and an imiquimod-induced murine model of psoriasis, we show that eosinophils provide inflammatory signals that accelerate the pathogenesis of psoriasis. EoL-1 cells constitutively expressed TLR7, which mediates acute and rapidly developing psoriatic inflammation.TRPA1 Acts in a Protective Manner in Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasiform Dermatitis in Mice
This study revealed the modulatory role of transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) and vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) cation channels in the Aldara-induced (5% imiquimod) murine psoriasis model using selective antagonists and genetically altered animals. We have also developed a refined localized model to enable internal controls and reduce systemic effects. Skin pathology was quantified by measuring skin thickness, scaling, blood flow, and analyzing dermal cellular infiltrate, whereas nocifensive behaviors were also observed.Lack of Galanin Receptor 3 Alleviates Psoriasis by Altering Vascularization, Immune Cell Infiltration, and Cytokine Expression
The neuropeptide galanin is distributed in the central and peripheral nervous systems and in non-neuronal peripheral organs, including the skin. Galanin acts via three G protein-coupled receptors which, except galanin receptor 1, are expressed in various skin structures. The galanin system has been associated with inflammatory processes of the skin and of several other organs. Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease with increased neovascularization, keratinocyte hyperproliferation, a proinflammatory cytokine milieu, and immune cell infiltration.miR-146b Probably Assists miRNA-146a in the Suppression of Keratinocyte Proliferation and Inflammatory Responses in Psoriasis
miR-146a inhibits inflammatory responses in human keratinocytes and in different mouse models of skin inflammation. Little is known about the role of miR-146b in the skin. In this study, we confirmed the increased expression of miR-146a and miR-146b (miR-146a/b) in the lesional skin of patients with psoriasis. The expression of miR-146a was approximately twofold higher than that of miR-146b in healthy human skin, and it was more strongly induced by stimulation of proinflammatory cytokines in keratinocytes and fibroblasts.Complement C3 Exacerbates Imiquimod-Induced Skin Inflammation and Psoriasiform Dermatitis
The complement system is pivotal in protection against pathogens, but it also plays important roles in bridging innate and adaptive immune responses (Scott and Botto, 2016) and in modulating local and systemic inflammation (Markiewski and Lambris, 2007). Activation of complement occurs through three different pathways (classical, alternative, and lectin), converges at C3 cleavage, and culminates in the formation of the membrane attack complex. The anaphylatoxic fragments, C3a and C5a, generated during the proteolytic cascade, recruit immune cells that can promote the removal of debris and pathogens, but they can also cause tissue damage (Markiewski and Lambris, 2007).Spread of Psoriasiform Inflammation to Remote Tissues Is Restricted by the Atypical Chemokine Receptor ACKR2
Elucidating the poorly defined mechanisms by which inflammatory lesions are spatially restricted in vivo is of critical importance in understanding skin disease. Chemokines are the principal regulators of leukocyte migration and are essential in the initiation and maintenance of inflammation. The membrane-bound psoriasis-associated atypical chemokine receptor 2 (ACKR2) binds, internalizes and degrades most proinflammatory CC-chemokines. Here we investigate the role of ACKR2 in limiting the spread of cutaneous psoriasiform inflammation to sites that are remote from the primary lesion.
