Epidermal overexpression of interleukin-19 and -20 mRNA in psoriatic skin disappears after short-term treatment with cyclosporine a or calcipotriol

J Invest Dermatol. 2003 Dec;121(6):1306-11. doi: 10.1111/j.1523-1747.2003.12626.x.

Abstract

Interleukin-19, 20, and 24 are new members of the IL-10 family binding and signaling through the IL-20R1/IL-20R2 heterodimer, while IL-20 and 24 also bind to the IL-20R2/IL-22R1 heterodimer. Using in situ hybridization we have studied mRNA expression of IL-19, 20, and 24 and their related receptor chains in skin from psoriatic patients before and during short-term treatment with either oral cyclosporine A or topical calcipotriol. In untreated lesions IL-19 and IL-20 mRNA was expressed focally in epidermis above the dermal papillae, whereas IL-24 was expressed in mononuclear cells in the dermal infiltrate. The expression of IL-19 and 20 mRNA was confined to the basal and suprabasal keratinocytes. No expression of IL-19 and 20 mRNA could be detected in uninvolved psoriatic skin. Treatment with cyclosporine A and calcipotriol resulted in disappearance of the IL-19 and 20 mRNA. Expression of mRNA for the receptor chains IL-20R1 and IL-20R2 was found throughout the psoriatic epidermal layer, whereas IL-22R1 mRNA was predominantly expressed in the superficial part of the psoriatic epidermis. These findings show that IL-19 and IL-20 are synthesized by a distinct population of keratinocytes. It remains to be clarified whether IL-19 and IL-20 are implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.

MeSH terms

  • Calcitriol / administration & dosage*
  • Calcitriol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cyclosporine / administration & dosage*
  • Dermatologic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Epidermal Cells
  • Epidermis / physiology
  • Gene Expression / drug effects
  • Genes, Tumor Suppressor
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-10 / genetics*
  • Interleukins / genetics
  • Keratinocytes / drug effects
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / physiopathology*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Interleukin / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects

Substances

  • Dermatologic Agents
  • IL19 protein, human
  • Interleukins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Interleukin
  • interleukin-22 receptor
  • interleukin-24
  • Interleukin-10
  • calcipotriene
  • Cyclosporine
  • Calcitriol
  • interleukin 20