PM2.5对皮肤的损伤：IL-6/IL-6受体通路的发现及其分子机制研究

PM2.5 and air pollution have been becoming an important pulic health issue. However, there are rare studies on the effects of PM2.5 in skin. In the previous study, we investigated the effects of PM2.5 on keratinocytes (KCs). It showed that PM2.5 could induce proliferation in KCs and activate NF-κB signaling pathway, which was associated with the increased expression of some cytokines, such as IL-6. In addition, PM2.5 could inhibit expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and filaggrin. It has been known that IL-6 and IL-6 receptor pathway play a key role in regulating inflammation, AMPs and differention markers. So, we propose a hypothesis that PM2.5 may regulate inflammation, AMPs and skin barrier-related molecules via IL-6/IL-6 receptor pathway in KCs. In this study, human primary KCs and mouse models are used to prove this hypothesis, and the molecular mechanism of PM2.5 effects on KCs may provide a theoretical basis for prevention and control of its harm.

PM2.5与空气污染正在成为重要的公共卫生问题。PM2.5对皮肤影响的研究却相对缺乏。我们在前期实验中研究了PM2.5对角质形成细胞（keratinocytes，KCs）的影响，PM2.5可促进KCs增殖并激活NF-κB信号通路，影响KCs细胞因子如IL-6的表达。PM2.5还可以抑制抗菌肽和丝聚蛋白的表达。已有研究证实IL-6与IL-6受体通路在调控炎症、抗菌肽和KCs分化相关蛋白中的重要作用。由此我们提出假设：PM2.5可以通过IL-6/IL-6受体通路影响皮肤KCs的炎症反应、抗菌肽及屏障相关蛋白的表达，因此对皮肤功能产生影响。本研究将采用原代KCs培养和小鼠模型进行研究，探讨PM2.5对皮肤作用的分子生物学机制，为防控PM2.5对皮肤的危害提供理论依据。