SIRT1 activity is decreased in lesional psoriatic skin

Modulating immune responses in alopecia: therapeutic insights and potential targets of antisense oligonucleotides

BACKGROUND

Alopecia areata (AA) are hair loss disorders with distinct pathogenetic mechanisms involving immune dysregulation and microRNA modulation. AA, a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, is characterized by sudden hair loss, with interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) playing a pivotal role in pathogenesis. The upregulation of IFN response genes, including IFN-inducible chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11, in lesional skin reflects the activation of the IFN response pathway and contributes to immune cell recruitment and inflammation.

RESULTS

Recent research highlights the role of SIRT1, a class III histone deacetylase, in modulating immune responses in AA. SIRT1 inhibition promotes the production of Th1 cytokines and chemokines, impairing inflammation, while SIRT1 activation suppresses autoreactive responses through NF-κB deacetylation and STAT3 phosphorylation. Additionally, antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) targeting miR-485-3p show therapeutic potential in promoting hair regrowth and mitigating inflammation in murine models of androgenic alopecia (AGA) and AA.

CONCLUSION

Understanding chemokine dysregulation provides key insights into AA pathogenesis and highlights TAMI-M as a potential therapy for reducing inflammation and promoting hair regeneration. These findings advance the exploration of immune, microRNA, and SIRT1 pathways as targets for novel hair loss treatments.

Histone Modifications and DNA Methylation in Psoriasis: A Cellular Perspective

In recent years, epigenetic modifications have attracted significant attention due to their unique regulatory mechanisms and profound biological implications. Acting as a bridge between environmental stimuli and changes in gene activity, they reshape gene expression patterns, providing organisms with regulatory mechanisms to respond to environmental changes. A growing body of evidence indicates that epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of psoriasis. A deeper understanding of these epigenetic mechanisms not only helps unveil the molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of psoriasis but may also provide new insights into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Given the unique roles and significant contributions of various cell types involved in the process of psoriasis, a thorough analysis of specific epigenetic patterns in different cell types becomes a key entry point for elucidating the mechanisms of disease development. Although epigenetic modifications encompass multiple complex layers, this review will focus on histone modifications and DNA methylation, describing how they function in different cell types and subsequently impact the pathophysiological processes of psoriasis. Finally, we will summarize the current problems in research concerning histone modifications and DNA methylation in psoriasis and discuss the clinical application prospects and challenges of targeting epigenetic modifications as therapeutic strategies for psoriasis.

SIRT1 and thrombosis

Thrombosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, with a complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that SIRT1, a member of the sirtuin family of NAD + -dependent deacetylases, plays a crucial role in regulating thrombosis, modulating key pathways including endothelial activation, platelet aggregation, and coagulation. Furthermore, SIRT1 displays anti-inflammatory activity both in vitro, in vivo and in clinical studies, particularly via the reduction of oxidative stress. On these bases, several studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of targeting SIRT1 for the prevention of thrombosis. This review provides a comprehensive and critical overview of the main preclinical and clinical studies and of the current understanding of the role of SIRT1 in thrombosis.

Influence of narrow-band ultraviolet B therapy on sirtuin 1 expression in lesional skin of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis: Relation to clinical improvement and interferon-γ expression

BACKGROUND

Reduced sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) expression in psoriasis was previously reported, and its activation was associated with disease improvement. Narrow-band ultraviolet B (NB-UVB) downregulates several pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and influences keratinocyte differentiation in psoriasis.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to study the in vivo influence NB-UVB treatment on Sirt1 expression in psoriatic skin in relation to disease improvement and IFN-γ expression.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients with chronic plaque psoriasis were evaluated, and psoriasis area severity index (PASI) was calculated. Skin biopsies were taken from lesional skin of the patients before and after 3 months of treatment with NB-UVB and from 26 controls, where the distribution and immunohistochemistry (IHC) scores of Sirt1 and IFN-γ were determined.

RESULTS

After 3 months of treatment, Sirt1 distribution and epidermal IHC score were significantly higher, whereas Sirt1 dermal IHC score and IFN-γ distribution, epidermal and dermal IHC scores were significantly lower than the pre-treatment values. Before and after 3 months of NB-UVB therapy, PASI showed a significant negative correlation with Sirt1 distribution and epidermal IHC score; and a significant positive correlation with interferon-γ distribution and epidermal IHC score. Moreover, Sirt1 distributions were negatively correlated with the corresponding interferon-γ distributions. Conclusions The detected upregulation of epidermal Sirt1 following NB-UVB therapy possibly represents another mechanism by which NB-UVB can act in psoriasis and also highlights the role of Sirt1 upregulation in psoriasis treatment.

Oxidative Stress Induced by High Salt Diet—Possible Implications for Development and Clinical Manifestation of Cutaneous Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Psoriasis vulgaris

Although oxidative stress is recognized as an important effector mechanism of the immune system, uncontrolled formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species promotes excessive tissue damage and leads to disease development. In view of this, increased dietary salt intake has been found to damage redox systems in the vessel wall, resulting in endothelial dysfunction associated with NO uncoupling, inflammation, vascular wall remodeling and, eventually, atherosclerosis. Several studies have reported increased systemic oxidative stress accompanied by reduced antioxidant capacity following a high salt diet. In addition, vigorous ionic effects on the immune mechanisms, such as (trans)differentiation of T lymphocytes are emerging, which together with the evidence of NaCl accumulation in certain tissues warrants a re-examination of the data derived from in vitro research, in which the ionic influence was excluded. Psoriasis vulgaris (PV), as a primarily Th17-driven inflammatory skin disease with proven inflammation-induced accumulation of sodium chloride in the skin, merits our interest in the role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of PV, as well as in the possible beneficial effects that could be achieved through modulation of dietary salt intake and antioxidant supplementation.

Oxidative Stress as an Important Contributor to the Pathogenesis of Psoriasis

This review discusses how oxidative stress (OS), an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in favor of the oxidants, increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and decreased concentration/activity of antioxidants affect the pathogenesis or cause the enhancement of psoriasis (Ps). Here, we also consider how ROS/RNS-induced stress modulates the activity of transcriptional factors and regulates numerous protein kinase cascades that participate in the regulation of crosstalk between autophagy, apoptosis, and regeneration. Answers to these questions will likely uncover novel strategies for the treatment of Ps. Action in the field will avoid destructive effects of ROS/RNS-mediated OS resulting in cellular dysfunction and cell death. The combination of the fragmentary information on the role of OS can provide evidence to extend the full picture of Ps.

Histone Deacetylase 1 and Sirtuin 1 Expression in Psoriatic Skin: A Comparison between Guttate and Plaque Psoriasis

Abnormal histone modification by histone deacetylases (HDACs), including HDAC1 and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), has been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis by altering cell proliferation, differentiation, and inflammation. However, findings on the expression level of HDACs in psoriatic skin lack consistency. We assessed the expression of HDAC1, SIRT1, p63, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in skin tissues from 23 patients with psoriasis (15 with plaque psoriasis and eight with guttate psoriasis) and five healthy individuals using immunohistochemistry, and analyzed their associations with clinical phenotypes of the disease. The expression of HDAC1 and keratinocyte proliferative markers, such as p63 and PCNA significantly increased, whereas that of SIRT1 decreased in the basal layer (p < 0.05) of the patients with psoriasis compared to those in healthy controls. Among the patients with psoriasis, expression of HDAC1, p63, and PCNA was significantly higher in plaque psoriasis than in guttate psoriasis. There was no significant differences in the level of SIRT1 between the two clinical phenotypes. The findings of this study suggest that histone modifications are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and may contribute to the formation of clinical phenotypes.

Fibroblasts to Keratinocytes Redox Signaling: The Possible Role of ROS in Psoriatic Plaque Formation

Although the role of reactive oxygen species-mediated (ROS-mediated) signalling in physiologic and pathologic skin conditions has been proven, no data exist on the skin cells ROS-mediated communication. Primary fibroblasts were obtained from lesional and non-lesional skin of psoriatic patients. ROS, superoxide anion, calcium and nitric oxide levels and lipoperoxidation markers and total antioxidant content were measured in fibroblasts. NADPH oxidase activity and NOX1, 2 and 4 expressions were assayed and NOX4 silencing was performed. Fibroblasts and healthy keratinocytes co-culture was performed. MAPK pathways activation was studied in fibroblasts and in co-cultured healthy keratinocytes. Increased intracellular calcium, •NO and ROS levels as well as an enhanced NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4)-mediated extracellular ROS release was shown in lesional psoriatic vs. control fibroblasts. Upon co-culture with lesional fibroblasts, keratinocytes showed p38 and ERK MAPKs pathways activation, ROS, Ca²⁺ and •NO increase and cell cycle acceleration. Notably, NOX4 knockdown significantly reduced the observed effects of lesional fibroblasts on keratinocyte cell cycle progression. Co-culture with non-lesional psoriatic and control fibroblasts induced slight cell cycle acceleration, but notable intracellular ROS accumulation and ERK MAPK activation in keratinocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrate that NOX4 expressed in dermal fibroblasts is essential for the redox paracrine regulation of epidermal keratinocytes proliferation.

Sirt1 Protects against Oxidative Stress-Induced Apoptosis in Fibroblasts from Psoriatic Patients: A New Insight into the Pathogenetic Mechanisms of Psoriasis

Psoriasis, a multisystem chronic disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation, has an unclear pathogenesis where systemic inflammation and oxidative stress play mutual roles. Dermal fibroblasts, which are known to provide a crucial microenvironment for epidermal keratinocyte function, represented the selected experimental model in our study which aimed to clarify the potential role of SIRT1 in the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease. We firstly detected the presence of oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity), significantly reduced SIRT1 expression level and activity, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis (caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities) in psoriatic fibroblasts. Upon SIRT1 activation, redox balance was re-established, mitochondrial function was restored and apoptosis was no longer evident. Furthermore, we examined p38, ERK and JNK activation, which was strongly altered in psoriatic fibroblasts, in response to SIRT1 activation and we measured caspase-3 activity in the presence of specific MAPK inhibitors demonstrating the key role of the SIRT1 pathway against apoptotic cell death via MAPK modulation. Our results clearly demonstrate the involvement of SIRT1 in the protective mechanisms related to fibroblast injury in psoriasis. SIRT1 activation exerts an active role in restoring both mitochondrial function and redox balance via modulation of MAPK signaling. Hence, SIRT1 can be proposed as a specific tool for the treatment of psoriasis.