Objective. Ultraviolet B (UVB) is an important trigger of skin inflammation and lupus with recruitment of leukocytes to inflamed skin. Neutrophil NETosis has been implicated in pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus. We recently reported that nuclear envelope rupture and NET formation is driven by PKCα-mediated nuclear lamin B disassembly, with involvement of NETosis in UVB-induced skin inflammation. Studies have shown that cytoskeletal networks are involved in NETosis. However, it is still unknown how cytoskeletal networks and their upstream ROCK are involved in NET formation as well as UVB-induced skin inflammation.
Methods. The involvements of actomyosin cytoskeletal networks and ROCK1 in NETosis were studied in vitro. Mice with hematopoietic specific ROCK1 deficiency were irradiated by UVB to investigate NET formation in vivo and its involvement in skin inflammation.
Results. In time course studies, PKCα nuclear translocation was very well matched with actin polymerization and ROCK1 activation. Inhibition of actin polymerization or ROCK/MLCK/myosin pathway with chemical inhibitors decreased nuclear translocation of PKCα and NETosis in vitro. Furthermore, genetic deficiency of ROCK1 inhibited NET formation ex vivo. Hematopoietic specific ROCK1 deficiency ameliorated UVB-induced skin inflammation in mice with reduced skin thickness by attenuating NET formation and the extracellular display of NET-associated IL-17A, TNFα, IFNγ, and IFNα in the inflamed skin.
Conclusion. ROCK1 regulated neutrophils for NET formation by modulation of PKCα nuclear translocation through actomyosin cytoskeletal networks. ROCK1 deficiency ameliorates UVB-induced skin inflammation by inhibition of NETosis and display of NET-associated cytokines. This study provides insights into novel therapeutics on NETosis-related diseases.