Cutaneous Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II-γ-Positive Sympathetic Nerves Secreting Norepinephrine Dictate Psoriasis

Adv Sci (Weinh). 2024 Mar 28:e2306772. doi: 10.1002/advs.202306772. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Cutaneous sympathetic nerve is a crucial part of neuropsychiatric factors contributing to skin immune response, but its role in the psoriasis pathogenesis remains unclear. It is found that cutaneous calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-γ (CAMK2γ), expressed mainly in sympathetic nerves, is activated by stress and imiquimod in mouse skin. Camk2g-deficient mice exhibits attenuated imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like manifestations and skin inflammation. CaMK2γ regulates dermal γδT-cell interleukin-17 production in imiquimod-treated mice, dependent on norepinephrine production following cutaneous sympathetic nerve activation. Adrenoceptor β1, the primary skin norepinephrine receptor, colocalises with γδT cells. CaMK2γ aggravates psoriasiform inflammation via sympathetic nerve-norepinephrine-γδT cell-adrenoceptor β1-nuclear factor-κB and -p38 axis activation. Application of alcaftadine, a small-molecule CaMK2γ inhibitor, relieves imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like manifestations in mice. This study reveals the mechanisms of sympathetic-nervous-system regulation of γδT-cell interleukin-17 secretion, and provides insight into neuropsychiatric factors dictating psoriasis pathogenesis and new potential targets for clinical psoriasis treatment.

Keywords: CAMK2γ; adrenoceptor β1; alcaftadine; norepinephrine; psoriasis; sympathetic nerves; γδT cells.