IL‐22 regulates the expression of genes responsible for antimicrobial defense, cellular differentiation, and mobility in keratinocytes: a potential role in psoriasis

IL-22 is an IFN-IL-10 cytokine family member, which is produced by activated Th1 and NK cells and acts primarily on epithelial cells. Here we demonstrate that IL-22, in contrast to its relative IFN-gamma, regulates the expression of only a few genes in keratinocytes. This is due to varied signal transduction. Gene expressions regulated by IL-22 should enhance antimicrobial defense [psoriasin (S100A7), calgranulin A (S100A8), calgranulin B (S100A9)], inhibit cellular differentiation (e.g., profilaggrin, keratins 1 and 10, kallikrein 7), and increase cellular mobility [e.g., matrix metalloproteinease 1 (MMP1, collagenase 1), MMP3 (stromelysin 1), desmocollin 1]. In contrast, IFN-gamma favored the expression of…