22 again: IL-22 as a risk gene and important mediator in psoriasis

Abstract

IL-22 targets our external epithelial barriers, bolstering our defenses, and has long been implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Nikamo and colleagues (2014) identify a haplotype in the IL22 promoter with a strong association to juvenile-onset psoriasis and demonstrate that this risk variant is associated with increased IL-22 production by T cells. We explore the implications of this work.