FOSL1-associated condensates modulate superenhancer-mediated selected IL-1 family gene activation in psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease involving abnormal keratinocyte gene expression, yet the upstream epigenetic mechanisms driving these alterations remain unclear. Here we performed multiomics analyses (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, CUT&Tag, ATAC-seq, and RNA sequencing) on psoriatic lesions, perilesional skin, healthy skin, and M5-stimulated HaCaT cells. Functional validation was performed using CRISPR-mediated superenhancer (SE) editing, epigenetic modulation, circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing, assay for chromatin-bound condensates by exploratory sequencing, coimmunoprecipitation, and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. We found widespread activation of enhancers and SEs in lesions, including an interleukin 1 (IL-1)–SE regulating IL1A , IL1B , and IL36G transcription. BET inhibition reduced SE activity, repressed IL-1 cytokines, and relieved psoriasis-like inflammation in vivo. Fos-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) was identified as a key transcription factor enriched in active SEs and associated with condensate formation, contributing to the maintenance of EP300 occupancy and histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation deposition. Macrophage-derived IL-1 up-regulated FOSL1 through mitogen-activated protein kinase/ERK signaling, forming a positive feedback loop that amplified inflammation. This study revealed an FOSL1-SE–centered regulatory network driving keratinocyte inflammatory responses, providing previously unknown therapeutic targets for psoriasis.
Authors
- Ming Zhao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1320-1093)
- Yaqin Yu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4362-9178)
- Ruifang Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9923-949X)
- Huihui Hou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-2634-2703)
- Ke Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1777-0719)
- Yueqi Qiu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2467-2701)
- Qianjin Lu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-3625-0603)
Institutions
- Central South University (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CN)
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Dermatology Hospital (CN)
- Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University (CN)
- Xiangya Hospital Central South University (CN)
- Nanjing Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Science Advances
- Published
- 2026-10-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeh6541
- Primary Topic
- Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- National Key Research and Development Program of China Stem Cell and Translational Research