Activation of CD8 T cells accelerates anti-PD-1 antibody-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis through IL-6

Commun Biol. 2020 Oct 15;3(1):571. doi: 10.1038/s42003-020-01308-2.

Abstract

Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors that target programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) can lead to various autoimmune-related adverse events (irAEs) including psoriasis-like dermatitis. Our observations on human samples indicated enhanced epidermal infiltration of CD8 T cells, and the pathogenesis of which appears to be dependent on IL-6 in the PD-1 signal blockade-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis. By using a murine model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis, we further demonstrated that PD-1 deficiency accelerates skin inflammation with activated cytotoxic CD8 T cells into the epidermis, which engage in pathogenic cross-talk with keratinocytes resulting in production of IL-6. Moreover, genetically modified mice lacking PD-1 expression only on CD8 T cells developed accelerated dermatitis, moreover, blockade of IL-6 signaling by anti-IL-6 receptor antibody could ameliorate the dermatitis. Collectively, PD-1 signal blockade-induced psoriasis-like dermatitis is mediated by PD-1 signaling on CD8 T cells, and furthermore, IL-6 is likely to be a therapeutic target for the dermatitis.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / adverse effects*
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological / pharmacology
  • Biomarkers
  • CD4-CD8 Ratio
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Epidermis / immunology
  • Epidermis / metabolism
  • Epidermis / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Keratinocytes / immunology
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Lymphocyte Activation / drug effects
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Phenotype
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Psoriasis / diagnosis
  • Psoriasis / etiology*
  • Psoriasis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • Interleukin-6
  • PDCD1 protein, human
  • Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor