Antibiotics in neonatal life increase murine susceptibility to experimental psoriasis

Peter Zanvit1, Joanne E Konkel1,2, Xue Jiao1,3

  • 1Mucosal Immunology Section, OPCB, NIDCR, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.

Nature Communications
|September 30, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic exposure in adult mice reduced psoriasis symptoms. However, early-life antibiotic treatment worsened psoriasis later in life by altering gut and skin microbiota, increasing susceptibility.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Immunology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Psoriasis is a prevalent inflammatory skin condition with an unclear etiology.
  • The role of microbiota in autoimmune disease development is increasingly recognized.
  • The specific influence of microbiota on psoriasis pathogenesis requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of antibiotic-induced microbiota alterations on experimental psoriasis.
  • To determine how the timing of antibiotic exposure influences psoriasis development.
  • To explore the link between dysregulated microbiota and psoriasis susceptibility.

Main Methods:

  • Antibiotic treatment targeting Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria in adult and neonatal mice.
  • Induction of psoriasiform dermatitis using imiquimod or recombinant IL-23.
  • Flow cytometry to analyze T cell populations (IL-17, IL-22, γδ T cells).
  • 16S rRNA gene sequencing for gut and skin microbiota composition analysis.

Main Results:

  • Adult antibiotic treatment ameliorated imiquimod-induced psoriasis, decreasing pro-inflammatory T cells.
  • Neonatal antibiotic treatment exacerbated adult psoriasis, increasing IL-22-producing γδ T cells.
  • Neonatal antibiotic exposure led to gut and skin microbiota dysbiosis in adult mice, correlating with increased psoriasis susceptibility.

Conclusions:

  • The timing of antibiotic exposure significantly influences psoriasis development.
  • Neonatal antibiotic-induced microbiota dysbiosis is linked to increased susceptibility to experimental psoriasis.
  • These findings highlight the critical role of early-life microbiota in immune system development and its implications for psoriasis etiology.