NMI promotes the secretion of IL-17 and exacerbates psoriasis

Y Yaqi Gao (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University) J Jingjing Wang Z Zhen Qin (Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) N Na Xu (Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, College of Chemistry and Materials Science) X Xiaowen Wang T Tianqi Liu (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University) S Shengli Wang (Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Jinan University) Z Zhenxing Chen (Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) Y Yunhua Xu Y Yongjie Yao (Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) Y Yimiao Wu (Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) Z Zhuangfeng Weng (Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) Y Yan Geng (Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Peking University First Hospital) Z Zhinan Yin (The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University) J Jing Qin (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University) T Tao Xu Y Yingfang Liu (Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University) H Huanhuan Liang (School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University)

Abstract

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are well established as key mediators of innate immune activation; however, their functions in modulating adaptive immunity, particularly T cell responses, remain incompletely characterized. Here, we report the identification and functional characterization of NMI—a recently identified DAMP—as a regulator of T helper 17 (Th17) cell activity and its involvement in psoriasis pathogenesis. Elevated expression of NMI was observed in psoriatic skin lesions and correlated significantly with heightened IL-17 levels. In a murine model of psoriasis, Nmi deficiency ( Nmi −/− ) resulted in a marked attenuation of skin inflammation, accompanied by significantly reduced expression of IL-17A and IL-17F. In vitro studies further demonstrated that NMI promotes the secretion of IL-17A and IL-17F from differentiated Th17 cells through its interaction with Toll-like receptor 4. Moreover, therapeutic neutralization of NMI using specific antibodies effectively ameliorated psoriatic symptoms in mice. Collectively, these results identify NMI as an endogenous enhancer of Th17-mediated immunity and highlight its potential as a therapeutic target in psoriasis.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 123, Issue 10
Published March 10, 2026
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (18)

Y

Yaqi Gao

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University

J

Jingjing Wang

Z

Zhen Qin

Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

N

Na Xu

Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Biomedical Functional Materials, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, College of Chemistry and Materials Science

X

Xiaowen Wang

T

Tianqi Liu

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University

S

Shengli Wang

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Jinan University

Z

Zhenxing Chen

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

Y

Yunhua Xu

Y

Yongjie Yao

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

Y

Yimiao Wu

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

Z

Zhuangfeng Weng

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

Y

Yan Geng

Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Peking University First Hospital

Z

Zhinan Yin

The Biomedical Translational Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Science, Jinan University

J

Jing Qin

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University

T

Tao Xu

Y

Yingfang Liu

Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Systems Medicine in Inflammatory Diseases, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University

H

Huanhuan Liang

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University