Integrated lipidomic and transcriptomic profiling of imiquimod-induced psoriasiform dermatitis.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by keratinocyte hyperproliferation and immune dysregulation. Emerging clinical and experimental evidence suggests that endogenous lipid (endolipid) signaling systems, including the endocannabinoid system (ECS), represent a promising therapeutic target to treat psoriasis; however, comprehensive characterization of small-molecule endolipids and related proteins in psoriatic skin and their relationship to systemic changes remains limited. Here, we used the imiquimod (IMQ)-induced mouse model of psoriasis to perform combined lipidomic and transcriptional profiling of endolipid signaling in both skin and plasma. Targeted lipidomics revealed a striking divergence between tissues: most endolipids increased in inflamed skin but decreased in plasma, including the canonical ECS lipids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol. In contrast, selected lipid species, including taurine-conjugated metabolites (both N-acyl taurines and bile acids), were elevated in both tissues, indicating pathway-specific regulation. Targeted transcriptional analysis of whole skin showed reduced expression of key endolipid biosynthetic enzymes (Napepld, Dagla, Daglb) and the cannabinoid receptor Cnr1, while Cnr2 and ECS-related metabolic enzymes remained unchanged. Additional alterations were observed in transcripts involved in related endolipid signaling (Trpv1, Trpv4, Ppara, Pparg, Gpr55), bile acid metabolism (Fxr, Bsep, Fabp4, Fabp5, Cyp27a1, Cyp8b1), and inflammatory pathways (Cox-2). To resolve this apparent discrepancy between lipid levels and gene expression, we performed compartment-specific analyses of epidermal and dermal layers. These revealed a predominantly suppressive epidermal response across multiple ECS-related proteins, contrasted by a more variable dermal profile with selective preservation or upregulation, particularly of Cnr2. Together, these findings demonstrate that psoriasiform inflammation is associated with compartment-specific remodeling of endolipid signaling across skin and systemic compartments, underscoring the functional heterogeneity of epidermal and dermal layers. This dataset provides novel insights into the dysregulation of endolipid signaling systems in psoriasis and provides a foundation for the development of spatially informed, lipid-based therapeutic strategies.