1. Phosphodiesterase-4 Inhibition Reduces Cutaneous Inflammation and IL-1β Expression in a Psoriasiform Mouse Model but Does Not Inhibit Inflammasome Activation
- Author
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Meier-Schiesser, Barbara, Mellett, Mark, Ramirez-Fort, Marigdalia K, Maul, Julia-Tatjana, Klug, Annika, Winkelbeiner, Nicola, Fenini, Gabriele, Schafer, Peter, Contassot, Emmanuel, French, Lars E, University of Zurich, and Meier-Schiesser, Barbara
- Subjects
QH301-705.5 ,Inflammasomes ,1503 Catalysis ,PDE4 inhibition ,Interleukin-1beta ,Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ,1607 Spectroscopy ,Mice, Transgenic ,610 Medicine & health ,Article ,Catalysis ,Inorganic Chemistry ,inflammasome ,1312 Molecular Biology ,1706 Computer Science Applications ,Animals ,Humans ,Psoriasis ,Biology (General) ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,QD1-999 ,Molecular Biology ,Spectroscopy ,1604 Inorganic Chemistry ,Organic Chemistry ,10177 Dermatology Clinic ,General Medicine ,cytokines ,Immunity, Innate ,Thalidomide ,Computer Science Applications ,Chemistry ,Phosphodiesterase 4 Inhibitors ,1606 Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,1605 Organic Chemistry - Abstract
Apremilast (Otezla®) is an oral small molecule phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor approved for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and oral ulcers associated with Behçet’s disease. While PDE4 inhibition overall is mechanistically understood, the effect of apremilast on the innate immune response, particularly inflammasome activation, remains unknown. Here, we assessed the effect of apremilast in a psoriasis mouse model and primary human cells. Psoriatic lesion development in vivo was studied in K5.Stat3C transgenic mice treated with apremilast for 2 weeks, resulting in a moderate (2 mg/kg/day) to significant (6 mg/kg/day) resolution of inflamed plaques after 2-week treatment. Concomitantly, epidermal thickness dramatically decreased, the cutaneous immune cell infiltrate was reduced, and proinflammatory cytokines were significantly downregulated. Additionally, apremilast significantly inhibited lipopolysaccharide- or anti-CD3-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Notably, inflammasome activation and secretion of IL-1β were not inhibited by apremilast in PBMCs and in human primary keratinocytes. Collectively, apremilast effectively alleviated the psoriatic phenotype of K5.Stat3 transgenic mice, further substantiating PDE4 inhibitor-efficiency in targeting key clinical, histopathological and inflammatory features of psoriasis. Despite lacking direct effect on inflammasome activation, reduced priming of inflammasome components upon apremilast treatment reflected the indirect benefit of PDE4 inhibition in reducing inflammation.
- Published
- 2021
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