Antagonization of IL-17A attenuates skin inflammation and vascular dysfunction in mouse models of psoriasis

Besides skin inflammation, patients with severe psoriasis suffer from an increased risk of cardiovascular mortality. Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) plays a central role in the development of psoriasis and might connect skin and vascular disease. The aim of this study was to clarify whether anti-IL-17A therapy could also ameliorate the vascular dysfunction associated with severe psoriasis.We analyzed three murine models with varying severity of psoriasis-like skin disease concerning their vascular function and inflammation: K14-IL-17Aind/+ mice with keratinocyte-specific IL-17A overexpression and an early onset severe psoriasis-like phenotype, homozygous CD11c-IL-17Aind/ind and heterozygous CD11c-IL-17Aind/+ mice overexpressing IL-17A in CD11c+ cells leading to a delayed onset of moderate psoriasis-like skin disease, and the acute model of imiquimod-induced psoriasis-like skin inflammation.