Psoriasis and Antimicrobial Peptides

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 21; no. 18; p. 6791
• Main Authors: Takahashi, Toshiya, Yamasaki, Kenshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI 16-09-2020; MDPI AG
• Subjects: Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - metabolism; antimicrobial peptides; Antirheumatic Agents - therapeutic use; cathelicidin (LL-37); Cytokines - biosynthesis; Cytokines - genetics; DAMPs; Defensins - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Extracellular Traps - metabolism; Humans; Keratinocytes - metabolism; Neutrophils - metabolism; Phenotype; Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins - metabolism; psoriasis; Psoriasis - immunology; Psoriasis - metabolism; Psoriasis - therapy; Review; S100 proteins; S100 Proteins - metabolism; Signal Transduction; Skin - metabolism; Skin Diseases - metabolism; Staphylococcus epidermidis - metabolism; Th1 Cells - metabolism; Th17 Cells - metabolism; Toll-Like Receptors - metabolism; Vitamin D - pharmacology; Vitamin D - therapeutic use; β-defensin; NETs; plasmacytoid dendritic cells; β-defensin; S100 proteins; psoriasis; cathelicidin (LL-37); Th17; antimicrobial peptides; DAMPs
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21186791

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease caused by crosstalk between various cells such as T cells, neutrophils, dendritic cells, and keratinocytes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as β-defensin, S100, and cathelicidin are secreted from these cells and activate the innate immune system through various mechanisms to induce inflammation, thus participating in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. In particular, these antimicrobial peptides enhance the binding of damage-associated molecular patterns such as self-DNA and self-RNA to their receptors and promote the secretion of interferon from activated plasmacytoid dendritic cells and keratinocytes to promote inflammation in psoriasis. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), complexes of self-DNA and proteins including LL-37 released from neutrophils in psoriatic skin, induce Th17. Activated myeloid dendritic cells secrete a mass of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12 and IL-23 in psoriasis, which is indispensable for the proliferation and survival of T cells that produce IL-17. AMPs enhance the production of some of Th17 and Th1 cytokines and modulate receptors and cellular signaling in psoriasis. Inflammation induced by DAMPs, including self-DNA and RNA released due to microinjuries or scratches, and the enhanced recognition of DAMPs by AMPs, may be involved in the mechanism underlying the Köbner phenomenon in psoriasis.