Immune cells in the epithelial immune microenvironment of psoriasis: emerging therapeutic targets

Lisha Li; Jiaye Lu; Jun Liu; Junchao Wu; Xinyue Zhang; Yu Meng; Xiying Wu; Zongguang Tai; Quangang Zhu; Zhongjian Chen

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340677

Immune cells in the epithelial immune microenvironment of psoriasis: emerging therapeutic targets

Front Immunol. 2024 Jan 4:14:1340677. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1340677. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Lisha Li^#^{1

2

3}, Jiaye Lu^#^{1

2

3}, Jun Liu^#^{1

3}, Junchao Wu^{1

2

3}, Xinyue Zhang^{1

3}, Yu Meng^{1

3}, Xiying Wu^{1

3}, Zongguang Tai^{1

3}, Quangang Zhu^{1

2

3}, Zhongjian Chen^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Skin Disease Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
² Shanghai University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
³ Shanghai Engineering Research Center of External Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by erroneous metabolism of keratinocytes. The development of psoriasis is closely related to abnormal activation and disorders of the immune system. Dysregulated skin protective mechanisms can activate inflammatory pathways within the epithelial immune microenvironment (EIME), leading to the development of autoimmune-related and inflammatory skin diseases. In this review, we initially emphasized the pathogenesis of psoriasis, paying particular attention to the interactions between the abnormal activation of immune cells and the production of cytokines in psoriasis. Subsequently, we delved into the significance of the interactions between EIME and immune cells in the emergence of psoriasis. A thorough understanding of these immune processes is crucial to the development of targeted therapies for psoriasis. Finally, we discussed the potential novel targeted therapies aimed at modulating the EIME in psoriasis. This comprehensive examination sheds light on the intricate underlying immune mechanisms and provides insights into potential therapeutic avenues of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: cytokines; epithelial microenvironment; immune cells; inflammatory skin disease; psoriasis; therapeutic targets.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cytokines / metabolism
Humans
Immune System
Keratinocytes / metabolism
Psoriasis* / drug therapy
Skin

Substances

Cytokines

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 82003659, 82073385 and 82172706) and the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (grants 20DZ2255200, 22S21902700, and 23S21900800).