Blockade of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase PI3Kδ or PI3Kγ reduces IL-17 and ameliorates imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis

J Immunol. 2012 Nov 1;189(9):4612-20. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1103173. Epub 2012 Sep 28.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease triggered by interplay between immune mediators from both innate and adaptive immune systems and skin tissue, in which the IL-23/IL-17 axis is critical. PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ play important roles in various immune cell functions. We found that mice lacking functional PI3Kδ or PI3Kγ are largely protected from imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis, correlating with reduced IL-17 levels in the lesions, serum, and the draining lymph nodes. TCRγδ T cells were the major IL-17-producing population in the draining lymph nodes and were significantly diminished in IMQ-treated PI3Kδ knockin and PI3Kγ knockout mice. We also show that PI3Kδ and PI3Kγ inhibitors reduced IFN-γ production by human TCRγδ T cells and IL-17 and IFN-γ production by PBMCs from psoriatic or healthy donors. In addition, inhibition of PI3Kγ, but not PI3Kδ, blocked chemotaxis of CCR6(+)IL-17-producing cells from IMQ-treated mice or healthy human donors. Taken together, these data indicate that PI3Kδ and/or PI3Kγ inhibitors should be considered for treating IL-17-driven diseases, such as psoriasis.

MeSH terms

  • Aminoquinolines / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / genetics
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase / physiology
  • Dermatitis / immunology*
  • Dermatitis / pathology
  • Dermatitis / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Humans
  • Imiquimod
  • Interleukin-17 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Interleukin-17 / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-17 / blood
  • Lymph Nodes / immunology
  • Lymph Nodes / metabolism
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Middle Aged
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / physiology
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors*
  • Psoriasis / chemically induced
  • Psoriasis / immunology*
  • Psoriasis / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / enzymology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / pathology

Substances

  • Aminoquinolines
  • Interleukin-17
  • Phosphoinositide-3 Kinase Inhibitors
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • Class Ib Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase
  • Pik3cd protein, mouse
  • Pik3cg protein, mouse
  • Imiquimod