Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease resulting from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors.

The pathogenic cross-talk between innate and adaptive cells underpins a dysregulated immune response leading to aberrant epidermal proliferation. The Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that has been shown to be involved in maintaining homeostasis at other barrier organs such as the gut. AhR is expressed in several skin cell types which, by being in constant contact with the environment, are exposed to potential exogenous and endogenous AhR agonists. Thus, AhR signaling may be important in psoriasis pathogenesis.

To investigate this potential role, our research uses a dual approach, combining a mouse model of psoriasis-like skin disease with the analysis of clinical skin samples from psoriasis patients. Our findings suggest that AhR has a critical role in modulating skin immune responses and support further investigations to dissect the role of AhR in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.