The keratin-associated protein epiplakin is down-regulated in psoriasis

Epiplakin (EPPK1) is a protein that specifically interacts with keratin filaments in the epidermis. It helps to stabilize this filament network when the cells are under stress. In the present study we investigated how EPPK1 is regulated during the process of keratinocyte differentiation and in psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease in which this process is disturbed. Here, we analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from psoriatic patients and performed comparative analyses with wild-type and Eppk1 knockout mice. Murine skin samples were obtained from wild-type and Eppk1 knockout mice, as previously described (Spazierer et al., Mol Cell Biol. 2006;26(2):559–568. doi:10.1128/MCB.26.2.559-568.2006), and subjected to single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).