Psoriasis is a common inflammatory skin disease that affects approximately 1% of the population worldwide. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) gene polymorphisms have been strongly associated with psoriasis susceptibility. In this study, we investigate how TNFAIP3, also known as A20, may regulate psoriasis susceptibility. We found that haplo-insufficient A20+/- mice develop severe toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced skin inflammation compared to wild type mice owing to amplified production of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23. Examination of TNFAIP3 mRNA expression in skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis revealed reduced expression in both involved and uninvolved skin. Our results demonstrate the clinical importance of reduced dermal expression of A20 in psoriasis and suggest that A20 restriction of the IL-23/17 axis protects against psoriasis.
