IL-17A localizes in the exocytic compartment of mast cells in psoriatic skin

Psoriasis is a frequent, chronic recurrent inflammatory skin disease that substantially affects the quality of life of patients. IL-17A is believed to play a major role in its pathogenesis, as strategies to block this cytokine proved to be particularly effective in the treatment of psoriasis¹. However, the cellular sources of IL-17A in psoriasis are still debated. Th17 cells have been suggested as major contributors^2,3, although this hypothesis has been recently challenged by the histological analysis of lesional psoriatic skin from several independent groups. In the epidermis, neutrophils – forming the so-called Munro's microabscesses – stain strongly positive for IL-17A, while in the dermal compartment IL-17A is mainly found in mast cells, less so in neutrophils and only rarely in T cells^3-5.

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