IL-36 receptor antagonist deficiency resulted in delayed wound healing due to excessive recruitment of immune cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 8;10(1):14772. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71256-8.

Abstract

Loss-of-function homozygous or compound heterozygous mutations in IL36RN, which encodes interleukin-36 receptor antagonist (IL-36Ra), have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various skin disorders. Previous findings showed that IL-36γ promoted wound healing in mice; however, the pathogenic role of IL-36Ra in wound healing remains unclear. We elucidated the role of IL-36Ra, a regulator of IL-36 in tissue repair by investigating the recruitment of inflammatory cells and cytokine production in the absence of IL-36Ra. Full-thickness excisional wounds were made on the back of Il36rn-/- mice and healing was assessed by monitoring macroscopic wound sizes, numbers of infiltrated cells, and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. Macroscopic wound healing, re-epithelialization, and granulation tissue formation were delayed by 3 days post-injury in Il36rn-/- mice. This delay was associated with increased infiltrations of neutrophils and macrophages, and increased expression of cytokines, such as IL-36γ, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Importantly, administration of TAK-242, a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) inhibitor, caused normalization of wound healing in Il36rn-/- mice, abrogating the initial delay in tissue repair. These results showed that targeting TLR4- mediated infiltrations of immune cells and cytokine production could be beneficial in regulating wound healing in IL-36Ra-deficient skin disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Inflammation / etiology
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Macrophages / immunology*
  • Macrophages / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / genetics
  • Receptors, Interleukin-1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Wound Healing*

Substances

  • Receptors, Interleukin-1