ERK1/2 regulates epidermal chemokine expression and skin inflammation

Resident cell populations of the skin contribute to the inflammatory response by producing an array of chemokines, which attract leukocytes from the circulation. TNF-alpha is a major inducer of proinflammatory mediators in keratinocytes. We have recently observed that epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling affects TNF-alpha-driven chemokine expression in epidermal keratinocytes, and its functional impairment increases the levels of crucial chemoattractants such as CCL2/MCP-1, CCL5/RANTES, and CXCL10/IFN-gamma-inducible protein-10. In this study, we report evidence that EGFR-dependent ERK1/2 activity is implicated in this mechanism. Abrogation of ERK1/2 activity with specific inhibitors increased chemokine expression in keratinocytes by enhancing mRNA stabilization. In mouse models, inflammatory response to irritants and T cell-mediated contact hypersensitivity were both aggravated when elicited in a skin area previously treated with an EGFR or a MAPK kinase 1/2 inhibitor. In contrast, impairment of p38 alpha beta MAPK phosphorylation markedly attenuated these responses. Our data indicate that EGFR-dependent ERK1/2 activity in keratinocytes takes part to a homeostatic mechanism regulating inflammatory responses, and emphasize the distinct role of MAPKs as potential targets for manipulating inflammation in the skin.