Recombinant programmed cell death 1 inhibits psoriatic inflammation in imiquimod‑treated mice

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‑L1) and programmed cell death 1 (PD‑1) are expressed on immune cells in a number of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, a limited number of studies have investigated the expression and function of the PD‑L1 and PD‑1 pathway in psoriatic inflammation. The present study used human psoriasis samples and imiquimod‑induced murine psoriasis models to investigate the potential role of PD‑1 in the modulation of psoriatic inflammation. The results demonstrated that inhibition of PD‑1 function with antibodies promoted psoriasis development. PD‑1‑fragment crystallizable (PD‑1‑Fc) treatment inhibited psoriatic inflammation and exhibited additive effects with anti‑tumor necrosis factor α therapy in imiquimod‑induced mouse psoriasis, suggesting that PD‑1‑Fc treatment may serve as a new therapeutic strategy for psoriasis.