Aim: To investigate the effect of cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) on psoriasis. Materials & methods: Fourier transform infrared, powder x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize nanoceria. Imiquimod (62.5 mg/mice) was used for the induction of psoriasis while nanoceria was administered/applied via multiple routes (topical gel, intraperitoneal and subcutaneous) as a therapeutic intervention once daily. Results: Nanoceria significantly attenuated splenic hypertrophy, psoriasis area severity index scoring, and lipid peroxidation. It also reduced the expression of various inflammatory and proliferation markers such as IL-17, IL-22, IL-23, Ki-67, NF-κB, COX-2 and GSK3. Conclusion: Nanoceria exerts an antipsoriatic effect by inhibiting major pathogenic immune axes namely the Th-cell mediated IL-17/IL-23 axis and by downregulating other crucial inflammatory proteins like NF-κB, COX-2 and GSK3.
Keywords: IL-17/IL-23 axis; PASI score; clobetasol; imiquimod; inflammation; keratinocytes; nanoceria; proliferation; psoriasis; topical gel formulation.