Investigation of the role of IL18, IL-1β and NLRP3 inflammasome in reducing expression of FLG-2 protein in Psoriasis vulgaris skin lesions

We investigated the effects of the NACHT leucine-rich repeat- and PYD-containing proteins (NLRP3) inflammasome, interleukin -18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) cytokines on the expression of filaggrin-2 (FLG-2) protein in psoriasis patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), including T cells, were isolated from psoriasis patients and healthy donors. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed for all specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis for FLG-2 in normal and psoriatic epidermal tissue also was performed. Western blot was used to separate and identify FLG-2 protein, and immunohistochemical staining was performed to assess FLG-2 expression for psoriasis skin lesions and normal skin. RT-PCR analysis indicated that NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-18 cytokine and IL-1β cytokine expression were increased in psoriatic epidermis compared to normal skin. We found that the expression of FLG-2 was decreased in psoriatic epidermis compared to normal skin. Higher levels of NLRP3 help decrease the FLG-2 level.