A PPARδ-selective antagonist ameliorates IMQ-induced psoriasis-like inflammation in mice

• PPARδ was highly expressed in psoriasiform lesions and IMQ-induced mouse skin.
• GSK3787 treatment reduced IMQ-induced epidermal proliferation and skin Inflammation.
• GSK3787 decreased TH17 cells and related cytokines in the IMQ-treated mouse skin.

PPARδ is highly expressed in skin, especially keratinocytes, and its expression is increased in psoriatic lesions. However, the potential role of PPARδ in the pathogenesis of psoriasis remains undefined. Mice treated with Imiquimod (IMQ) to induce psoriasis can be used to evaluate the pathogenesis of psoriasis, and this model has become one of the most important in vivo research tools for research on the disease. In the current study, we showed that PPARδ was highly expressed in the skin of IMQ-induced psoriasis mice. To further understand the impact of PPARδ in psoriasis, we used these mice in a series of experiments to evaluate the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We found that PPARδ was highly expressed in both psoriatic lesions and normal skin in IMQ-induced psoriasis mice. Furthermore, the expression of PPARδ-relevant lipases was also significantly increased. The PPARδ-selective antagonist GSK3787 ameliorated the observed inflammation in the skin of the experimental mice. Based on these results, PPARδ may be a potential target for the effective treatment of psoriasis.