Impaired function of regulatory T cells in patients with psoriasis is mediated by phosphorylation of STAT3

Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated chronic inflammatory skin disease. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial in suppressing immune response to maintain the immune balance. Wheras Tregs from psoriatic patients showed poorly activity in suppressing activation of responder T cells (Tresp), the mechanisms involved in this process are still unknown.

In this study, we investigated the possible role of STAT3 pathway in the pathogenesis of dysfunctional Tregs in psoriasis.

The suppressive function and the proliferative activity of Tregs were detected from psoriatic patients and normal healthy controls. Expression of phospho-STAT3 in psoriatic Tregs was evaluated by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. Furthermore, Tregs were treated with Stattic V (STAT3 inhibitor) in order to investigate the role of STAT3 pathway in the function of Tregs. In addition, IL-6, IL-21 and IL-23 treatments were performed to identify the upstream molecules of STAT3 pathway in Tregs.

Tregs from peripheral blood of psoriatic patients showed decreased suppressive function, together with phosphorylation of STAT3. In addition, Tregs isolated from psoriatic patients could produce IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17. In the co-culture system of Tregs and Tresp isolated from psoriatic patients, addition of STAT3 inhibitor partially restored the suppressive function of Tregs and restrained the expressions of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-17 in psoriatic patients. Moreover, we found that IL-6, IL-21 and IL-23 induced the phosphorylation of STAT3 in Tregs.

Our findings suggest that psoriatic Tregs experience a predominant STAT3 phosphorylation by exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to their impaired functions in suppressing Tresp activation.