New Gene May Be an Effective Target for Autoimmune Disease Therapy

Researchers at King’s College London have identified a new gene, PIM1, which could be an effective target for innovative treatments and therapies for psoriasis, an autoimmune disease. In the study, scientists injected the IL-22 cytokine, a protein that sends messages between cells, into models of normal human skin in mice. The changes that subsequently occurred in the skin were reminiscent of psoriasis. Injecting an antibody to block the IL-22 cytokine caused these changes to reverse. Then, using computer analysis (called integrative biology), they compared data from the human skin models with existing gene datasets and identified the gene PIM1 as one of the genes “switched on” by the presence of IL-22. Further, they showed that a small molecule drug blocking PIM1 was effective in models of psoriasis. They concluded that the link between the IL-22 cytokine, which causes inflammation, and subsequent changes in the PIM1 gene suggests a direct link between PIM1 and psoriasis.

“We have been able to confirm that the protein IL-22 causes inflammatory changes in human skin contributing to psoriasis,” said Professor Frank Nestle from the St. John’s Institute of Dermatology at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London. “The most exciting part of the study was that detailed analysis of genes induced by IL-22 in skin allowed us to uncover a novel treatment target for this disease. We are hopeful that our research will lead to the development of new approaches for the treatment of this common and irritating skin condition.”