[PDF][PDF] Neutrophil-derived proteases escalate inflammation through activation of IL-36 family cytokines

CM Henry, GP Sullivan, DM Clancy, IS Afonina… - Cell reports, 2016 - cell.com
CM Henry, GP Sullivan, DM Clancy, IS Afonina, D Kulms, SJ Martin
Cell reports, 2016cell.com
Recent evidence has strongly implicated the IL-1 family cytokines IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ
as key initiators of skin inflammation. Similar to the other members of the IL-1 family, IL-36
cytokines are expressed as inactive precursors and require proteolytic processing for
activation; however, the responsible proteases are unknown. Here, we show that IL-36α, IL-
36β, and IL-36γ are activated differentially by the neutrophil granule-derived proteases
cathepsin G, elastase, and proteinase-3, increasing their biological activity∼ 500-fold …
Summary
Recent evidence has strongly implicated the IL-1 family cytokines IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ as key initiators of skin inflammation. Similar to the other members of the IL-1 family, IL-36 cytokines are expressed as inactive precursors and require proteolytic processing for activation; however, the responsible proteases are unknown. Here, we show that IL-36α, IL-36β, and IL-36γ are activated differentially by the neutrophil granule-derived proteases cathepsin G, elastase, and proteinase-3, increasing their biological activity ∼500-fold. Active IL-36 promoted a strong pro-inflammatory signature in primary keratinocytes and was sufficient to perturb skin differentiation in a reconstituted 3D human skin model, producing features resembling psoriasis. Furthermore, skin eluates from psoriasis patients displayed significantly elevated cathepsin G-like activity that was sufficient to activate IL-36β. These data identify neutrophil granule proteases as potent IL-36-activating enzymes, adding to our understanding of how neutrophils escalate inflammatory reactions. Inhibition of neutrophil-derived proteases may therefore have therapeutic benefits in psoriasis.
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