title: Calcipotriol inhibits proliferation of human keratinocytes by downregulating STAT1 and STAT3 signaling.
abstract: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, which is characterized by aberrantly high levels of inflammation, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are still not fully understood. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3, and the downstream proteins suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3, have been implicated in psoriasis disease progression. Calcipotriol, a synthetic derivative of vitamin D, has been used clinically to treat psoriasis, but the mechanism of action that underlies the beneficial effects of calcipotriol is still being explored. The objective of this study was to determine whether STAT1 and STAT3 signaling is involved in calcipotriol treatment. Using an in vitro immortal human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT cells, as a psoriasis model, we examined the molecular signaling induced by calcipotriol treatment. We found that calcipotriol treatment or silencing of either STAT1 or STAT3 inhibited proliferation of HaCaT cells. Calcipotriol downregulated the expression of STAT1 and STAT3 at the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels. The levels of phosphorylated STAT1 and STAT3 were also decreased, suggesting calcipotriol treatment inhibited STAT1 and STAT3 activation. Calcipotriol-mediated STAT inhibition was further substantiated by the downregulation of SOCS1 and SOCS3 at the mRNA and protein expression levels. Taken together, our results suggest a novel molecular mechanism for calcipotriol-mediated treatment effects in psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Nursing School of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.|Department of Dermatology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, 421 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Zigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ledong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D002117:Calcitriol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D020868:Gene Silencing / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins; C055085:calcipotriene; D002117:Calcitriol
keywords: Skin