Effects of antikeratin 16 antibodies on the expression of Toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in keratinocytes
Professor Zhizhong Zheng, Department of Dermatology of Huashan Hospital, Medical College of Fudan University, 12 WuLuMuQi Zhong Road, Shanghai 200040, China.E-mail: [email protected]
Professor Chenxin Li, Dermatology Center of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710032, China.E-mail: [email protected].
Conflict of interest: none declared.
Summary
Innate immunity plays an important role in psoriasis. The possible role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in the activation of innate immunity in psoriasis remains unknown. Serum antikeratin 16 (anti-K16) autoantibody levels are raised in patients with psoriasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of anti-K16 antibodies on TLR2 and TLR4 expression in keratinocytes. Keratinocytes were incubated with mouse anti-K16 monoclonal antibodies. Levels of TLR2 and TLR4 were measured by quantitative real-time PCR and flow cytometry. TLR2 mRNA level was increased by 1.73-fold, 1.60-fold and 2.52-fold at 6, 24 and 36 h after incubation, respectively. TLR4 mRNA level was increased by 3.62-fold and 2.21-fold at 12 and 36 h, respectively. TLR2 protein expression was increased by 1.73-fold on the cell membrane and 2.22-fold in cell membrane and intracytoplasmic locations. There was no change in TLR4. The results of this study indicate that anti-K16 antibodies may be a modulator of TLRs.
