IL-36γ Induced by the TLR3-SLUG-VDR Axis Promotes Wound Healing via REG3A

IL-36 family members are highly expressed in hyperproliferative keratinocytes and play an important role in the pathogenesis of skin diseases such as psoriasis. However, whether and how IL-36 cytokines are induced to promote wound healing remains unknown. Here we showed that skin injury increased the expression of IL-36 gamma to promote wound healing. Mechanistically, the expression of IL-36 gamma was induced by RNAs from damaged cells via the activation of toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing IFN-beta (TRIF) followed by the induction of a zinc finger protein SLUG to abrogate the inhibitory effect of vitamin D receptor (VDR) on the promoter of IL-36 gamma gene. IL-36 gamma acted back on keratinocytes to induce REG3A, which regulated keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation, thus promoting wound re-epithelialization. These observations show that skin injury increases IL-36 gamma via the activation of TLR3-SLUG-VDR axis and that IL-36 gamma induces REG3A to promote wound healing. These findings also provide insights into pathways contributing to wound repair.