Project description:The spread of inflammation from the skin to the joints is a key issue in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Psoriasis (PsO), one of the most common skin diseases, usually precedes joint manifestations, suggesting skin-joint disease spread, which occurs in about 30% of psoriasis patients. Until now, it has been unclear why the inflammatory process remains restricted to the skin in some patients with PsO, whereas it spreads to tendons and joints in others. Using a preclinical model of PsA, we aimed to elucidate the skin-joint axis, i.e. the spread of psoriatic inflammation from the skin to the joints. KAEDE transgenic mice expressing a photo-convertible fluorescent reporter were used to assess cell trafficking from inflamed skin to other organs in the mouse model of IL-23 overexpression (IL-23OE) induced PsA. Psoriatic skin lesions were irradiated with UV light to induce the photoswitch from KAEDE-GREEN to KAEDE-RED. Migrating cells were characterised by scRNAseq.
Project description:Kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6) is a secreted serine protease hypothesized to promote inflammation via cleavage of protease-activated receptors (PAR)1 and PAR2. KLK6 levels are elevated in multiple inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but no definitive role in pathogenesis has been established. Here, we show that skin-targeted overexpression of KLK6 causes generalized, severe psoriasiform dermatitis with spontaneous development of debilitating psoriatic arthritis-like joint disease. The psoriatic skin and joint phenotypes are reversed by normalization of skin KLK6 levels and attenuated following genetic elimination of PAR1 but not PAR2. Conservation of this regulatory pathway was confirmed in human psoriasis using vorapaxar, an FDA-approved PAR1 antagonist, on explanted lesional skin from psoriasis patients. Beyond defining a critical role for KLK6-PAR1 signaling in promoting psoriasis, our results demonstrate that KLK6-PAR1-mediated inflammation in the skin alone is sufficient to drive inflammatory joint disease. Further, we identify PAR1 as a promising cytokine-independent target in therapy of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
Project description:Knee joint synovium was used for gene expression analysis of mouse collagen induced arthritis (CIA). Synovium was prepared at day 30 after initial sensitization from: healthy controls, CIA animals with no, with mild, with moderate, or with severe joint inflammation. Each sample group is represented by three replicates, each consisting of tissue collected from three to four animals. Experiment Overall Design: The data set consists of 15 samples: five groups with three replicates each. One sample group is from healthy controls, the other groups are from CIA animals with different degress of joint inflammation.
Project description:Ultraviolet (UV) light affects endocrinological and behavioral aspects of human sexuality via an unknown mechanism. Using a unique male-female comparative approach, we discovered that the sexual behavioral and hormonal features enhanced by UVB are mediated by the skin. In mice, UV exposure increases hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis hormone levels, resulting in enhanced ovary size, extended estrus days, and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) expression. It likewise enhances the sexual responsiveness and attractiveness of females and male-female interactions of both males and females. Conditional knockout of p53 specifically in skin keratinocytes abolished UV’s effects. In humans, UV exposure enhanced romantic passion in both genders increased testosterone levels in men. Our data, revealing that UVB triggers a skin-brain-gonadal axis through skin p53 activation, offers therapeutic opportunities for sex-steroid-related dysfunctions. We speculate that during human furless skin evolution, the skin became the front-line regulator of the response to UVB.
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE12248: Genetic architecture of murine skin inflammation and tumor susceptibility GSE21247: Network Analysis of Skin Tumor Progression Identifies a Rewired Genetic Architecture Affecting Inflammation and Tumor Susceptibility (carcinomas) GSE21263: Network Analysis of Skin Tumor Progression Identifies a Rewired Genetic Architecture Affecting Inflammation and Tumor Susceptibility (papillomas) GSE26273: Network Analysis of Skin Tumor Progression Identifies a Rewired Genetic Architecture Affecting Inflammation and Tumor Susceptibility (aCGH) Refer to individual Series
Project description:To find which signaling is activated in chronic inflammation, we tried to induce chronic skin and pancreas inflammation compared to normal skin and pancreas.