TY - JOUR AB - Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by well‑defined scaly papules and plaques. Interleukin (IL)‑17 is involved in its pathogenesis and promotes the proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes through signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) activation. Shikonin, a natural naphthoquinone isolated from Lithospermum erythrorhizon, possesses anti‑inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties and can suppress IL‑17‑induced vascular endothelial growth factor expression by inhibiting the JAK/STAT3 pathway. In the present study, MTS, iCELLigence and RT‑qPCR were used to determine the optimal concentration and duration of IL‑17 or shikonin acting on HaCaT cells. The changes in the expression levels of genes associated with the IL‑6/STAT3 pathway in differentially treated cells were analyzed via RT2Profiler™ PCR Array. Small interfering RNA was used to silence the expression levels of the target gene CCAAT/enhancer‑binding protein δ (CEBPD). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the effect of shikonin on imiquimod‑induced psoriasis in mice and the expression levels of CEBPD. Shikonin reversed IL‑17‑mediated downregulation of the tumor suppressor CEBPD in HaCaT cells. Moreover, low levels of CEBPD in the imiquimod‑induced mouse model of psoriasis were restored by shikonin treatment, which ameliorated excessive keratinocyte proliferation. Taken together, these findings suggest that CEBPD plays a key role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and can be targeted by shikonin as a potential therapeutic strategy. AD - Department of Dermatology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China AU - Lan,Xiao‑Ou AU - Wang,He‑Xiao AU - Qi,Rui‑Qun AU - Xu,Yuan‑Yuan AU - Yu,Ya‑Jie  AU - Yang,Yang AU - Guo,Hao AU - Gao,Xing‑Hua AU - Geng,Long DA - 2020/09/01 DO - 10.3892/mmr.2020.11315 EP - 2272 IS - 3 JO - Mol Med Rep KW - CCAAT/enhancer‑binding protein δ interleukin‑17 psoriasis shikonin signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 PY - 2020 SN - 1791-2997 1791-3004 SP - 2263 ST - Shikonin inhibits CEBPD downregulation in IL‑17‑treated HaCaT cells and in an imiquimod‑induced psoriasis model T2 - Molecular Medicine Reports TI - Shikonin inhibits CEBPD downregulation in IL‑17‑treated HaCaT cells and in an imiquimod‑induced psoriasis model UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2020.11315 VL - 22 ER -