Transcriptomic response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to secukinumab in epidermolytic ichthyosis

Abstract

Epidermolytic ichthyosis (EI) is a subtype of ichthyosis, characterized by generalized blistering and erythroderma since birth followed by scaling and palmoplantar keratoderma. Several major orphan forms of ichthyosis have been linked to T helper (Th)17 signalling upregulation. Anecdotal reports also described the beneficial role of Th17-targeted agents in ichthyosis. However, the therapeutic efficacy and the transcriptomic changes caused by secukinumab in EI have rarely been discussed. We present a patient treated with secukinumab for 1 year and evaluated the transcriptomic alterations in peripheral blood after treatment, which revealed that interleukin-1 signalling and Toll-like receptor 2 cascade may underpin the inflammatory and hyperkeratotic footprint in EI.