Crosstalk: keratinocytes and immune cells in psoriasis

Abstract

In the past, psoriasis was considered a skin disease caused only by keratinocyte disorders. However, the efficacy of immunosuppressive drugs and biologics used to treat psoriasis proves that psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease. Indeed, a variety of immune cells are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, including dendritic cells, Th17 cells, and resident memory T cells. Furthermore, keratinocytes play a role in the development of psoriasis as immune cells by secreting antibacterial peptides, chemokines, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-36, and IL-23. These immune cells and skin cells interact and drive the aberrant differentiation and proliferation of keratinocytes. This crosstalk between keratinocytes and immune cells critical in the pathogenesis of psoriasis forms an inflammatory loop, resulting in the persistence or exacerbation of psoriasis plaques.