Activation of Cutaneous Protein Kinase Cα Induces Keratinocyte Apoptosis and Intraepidermal Inflammation by Independent Signaling Pathways

The study investigated the role of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) in skin inflammation and keratinocyte apoptosis using transgenic mice overexpressing PKCα. It was found that activation of PKCα led to severe intraepidermal neutrophilic inflammation and disruption of the epidermis and hair follicles when treated with TPA. Both TPA and UVB induced apoptosis in the skin, but only TPA caused inflammation. The apoptosis was mediated through an AP-1-dependent pathway, while the inflammation and chemokine induction occurred independently of AP-1. This research provided insights into the mechanisms of skin inflammation and could help in understanding conditions like pustular psoriasis.