Abstract
Skin injury can trigger formation of new lesions in psoriasis (Koebner phenomenon). The mechanisms through which injury exacerbates psoriasis are unclear. During wound repair, epidermal keratinocytes are activated and produce abundant IL-36γ, further promoting the skin inflammation. IL-17A is the cornerstone cytokine in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We sought to investigate the effects of IL-17A on injury-induced keratinocyte activation and IL-36γ production. Here, we demonstrated that dsRNA released from necrotic keratinocytes induced the expression of IL-36γ. Silencing of TLR3 by siRNA decreased the IL-36γ induction by necrotic keratinocyte supernatant. Co-stimulation with dsRNA and IL-17A synergistically increased the expression of IL-36γ and other proinflammatory mediators (CCL20, CXCL8, DEFB4 and LCN2) in keratinocytes. The synergistic effects were not dependent on TLR3 upregulation, TNF receptor signalling and mRNA stabilization. Co-stimulation with dsRNA and IL-17A resulted in an accumulation of IκBζ. The synergistic upregulation of IL-36γ and proinflammatory mediators were inhibited by IκBζ siRNA. Co-stimulation with IL-17A and poly(I:C) markedly activated the p38 MAPK and NF-κB pathway, compared with poly(I:C). Blockade of p38 MAPK and NF-κB suppressed dsRNA/IL-17A-mediated IκBζ and IL-36γ induction. These findings demonstrated that IL-17A synergistically enhanced the dsRNA-mediated IL-36γ production through a p38 MAPK-, NF-κB-, and IκBζ-dependent mechanism.