Interleukin-17A Drives IL-19 and IL-24 Expression in Skin Stromal Cells Regulating Keratinocyte Proliferation

IL-17A has been shown to be up-regulated in psoriasis lesions and is central to psoriasis pathogenesis. IL-19, along with other IL-20 subfamily cytokines such as IL-20 and IL-24, is induced by IL-17A and contributes especially to epidermal hyperplasia in psoriasis. However, the regulation, cellular sources of IL-19 and whether targeting of IL-17A by biologics influence IL-19 expression is not completely understood. To investigate the regulation of IL-19 by IL-17A in psoriasis, the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse (IMQ) model was used. Enhanced expression of IL-17A in the IMQ model was achieved by anti-IL-10 antibody treatment. Assessments of skin inflammation macroscopically, by histology and flow cytometry, all confirmed increased psoriatic symptoms. Interestingly, depletion of IL-10 markedly upregulated IL-23/IL-17 pathway related cytokines followed by a significant increase in IL-19 and IL-24. The up-regulation of IL-19 and IL-24, but not IL-17A, coincided with increased keratinocyte proliferation. To investigate the cellular source and effects of biologics on IL-19, human skin fibroblasts from healthy controls and psoriasis patients were cultured alone or co-cultured with activated memory CD4+ T cells. Besides IL-1β, IL-17A induced direct expression of IL-19 and IL-24 in skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Importantly, intrinsic higher expression of IL-19 in psoriatic skin fibroblasts was observed in comparison to healthy skin fibroblasts. Neutralization of IL-17A in the human skin fibroblast-T cell co-culture system significantly suppressed IL-19 and IL-24 expression. Together, our data show that IL-17A-induced IL-19 and IL-24 expression in skin stromal cells contribute to keratinocyte proliferation.