Culprit Drugs Induce Specific IL-36 Overexpression in Acute Generalized Exanthematous Pustulosis

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is a severe adverse cutaneous drug reaction. Although an involvement of drug-specific T cells has been reported, the physiopathology of AGEP and mechanism of neutrophilic skin inflammation remain incompletely understood. Recently, mutations in IL-36RN, the gene encoding the IL-36 receptor antagonist, have been reported to be more frequent in AGEP patients and pustular psoriasis. Here, we show that IL-36 cytokines, in particular IL-36γ, are highly expressed in lesional skin of AGEP patients, keratinocytes and macrophages being a major source of IL-36γ. Such an IL-36γ overexpression was not observed in patients with drug-induced maculopapular rash. In vitro, the causative drug specifically induced IL-36γ release either directly by the patient's peripheral blood monocytes or indirectly by keratinocytes in the presence of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Such culprit drug induction of IL-36γ secretion in vitro was specific for AGEP and involved toll-like receptor 4 sensing the drug/albumin complex as a danger signal. Our results suggest that IL-36γ secretion by monocytes/macrophages and keratinocytes in response to culprit drug exposure likely plays a key role in the pathogenesis of AGEP.