Adipokins and psoriasis

Adipokines are a group of peptide hormones (polypeptides) that are predominantly produced and secreted in the adipocytes of adipose tissue. Currently, more than 600 adipokines have been described in the human body with different biological properties. The most common classification focuses on their inflammatory properties and distinguishes between pro- and anti-inflammatory adipokines. The upregulation of pro-inflammatory adipokines leads to the development of a chronic, low-grade inflammatory state and contributes to metabolic dysfunction.

The adipokine MCP-1(CCL2) is elevated in the serum and skin of patients with psoriasis (Behfar S et al. 2018). MCP-1 contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis by promoting the migration and activation of macrophages in the skin, thereby activating inflammation. In this process, MCP-1 acts together with TNF-alpha to initiate and maintain the inflammatory environment, influence the recruitment of immune cells and maintain the inflammatory cycle in psoriatic lesions.

Visfatin levels are also elevated in the serum of patients with psoriasis and show a positive correlation with the severity of the disease (Kanda N et al. 2011). Visfatin enhances the inflammatory responses triggered by TNF-α in keratinocytes by upregulating CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL20 and antimicrobial peptides (Chyl-Surdacka KM et al. 2020; Hau CS et al. 2013).

Chemerin concentrations in the serum of patients with psoriasis are also elevated. Chemerin exacerbates psoriasis by promoting the migration of pDCs (plasmacytoid dendritic cells) to psoriatic lesions, activating NF-κB and upregulating proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, interleukin-6 and CXCL8 (Chyl-Surdacka KM et al. 2019). In addition, chemerin increases the expression of keratin 16, which is associated with the proliferation of keratinocytes and contributes to the pathogenesis of psoriasis (Wang Y et al.2019; Zhang X et al. 2019).

Interleukin-6 levels are elevated in the plasma and skin of patients with psoriasis. These levels are related to the severity of the disease as indicated by the PASI. IL-6 contributes to psoriatic lesions by promoting Th17 cell differentiation, inhibiting the suppressive function of Tregs and inducing angiogenesis by upregulating VEGF production.

CTRP3: In psoriasis, reduced concentrations of CTRP3 from adipocytes in the blood lead to a reduced anti-inflammatory effect, as CTRP3 typically exerts its protective function via the lysosome-associated membrane protein 1-STAT3 axis and attenuates inflammation in the skin lesions (O'Shea D et al. 2019).

Knowledge to date suggests that several adipokines, including MCP-1, visfatin, chemerin, IL-6 and CTRP3, play an important role in psoriasis by influencing inflammation, immune cell dynamics, keratinocyte proliferation and angiogenesis. These adipokines interact in a complex network that influences the severity and progression of the disease.

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