NFKB1 mediates Th1/Th17 activation in the pathogenesis of psoriasis

This study was aimed to investigate whether NFKB1 participates in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by mediating Th1/Th17 cells. In this study, expression of NFKB1 was assessed in skin tissues from psoriasis patients and the healthy controls through Western blot and Immunohistochemistry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to analyze the serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-17 (IL-17A) and IL-17RA. The imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model was employed to examine the role of NFKB1 in psoriasis via the assessment of psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), including erythema, thickness and scales. The effects of NFKB1 on Th1/Th17 cells in were examined by flow cytometry. In vitro co-culture of Th1/Th17 cells isolated from different mice with HaCat cells was conducted to elucidate the effect of Th1/Th17 cells-mediated by NFKB1 on HaCat cells by MTT, wound healing and transwell invasion assay, respectively. The results showed that NF-κB p105/p50 expression in skin tissues was significantly increased in psoriasis (n = 21) compared to the healthy controls (n = 16), as well as levels of serum INF-γ and IL-17. Additionally, NF-κB p105/p50 expression in lesional skin tissues was much higher than that in non-lesional skin tissues of the same patients. In the psoriasis mouse model, NFKB1 overexpression significantly elevated the scores of erythema, thickness and scales. Besides, NFKB1 up-regulated the level of NF-κB p105/p50, INF-γ, T-bet, IL-17 and RORγt, as well as Th1/Th17 cells in skin tissues of psoriasis mice. Finally, in vitro assay confirmed that the activation of Th1 and Th17 mediated by NFKB1 in psoriasis promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of keratinocytes. These findings suggest a critical role for NFKB1 in the regulation of Th1 and Th17 in psoriasis.