Abstract: Objective: To deremine the effect of calcipotriol on the expression of CCL20 induced by TNF-α in human keratinocytes. Methods: The keratinocytes were cultured in vitro, and then, were divided into TNF-α group, calcipotriol group, TNF-α+calcipotriol group, TNF-α+calcipotriol+SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) group, TNF-α+calcipotriol+SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) group, TNF-α+calcipotriol+U0126 (ERK inhibitor) group and TNF-α+calcipotriol+CAPE (NF-κB inhibitor) group. The expression level of CCL20 mRNA and protein was detected by real time-QPCR and ELISA. The phosphorylation status of p38 MAPK and ERK and NF-κBp65 was detected by Western blot. Results: The level of CCL20 and phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK，ERK and NF-κBp65 in TNF-α+calcipotriol group were lower than in TNF-α group, with significant differences (Ps<0.05). The level of CCL20 in TNF-α+calcipotriol group was lower than in TNF-α+calcipotriol+U0126 (ERK inhibitor) group, higher than those in TNF-α+calcipotriol+ SB202190 (p38 MAPK inhibitor) group and CAPE (NF-κB inhibitor) group, with significant differences (Ps<0.05). There was no significant difference in CCL20 level between TNF-α+calcipotriol group and TNF-α+calcipotriol+SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) group. Conclusion: Calcipotriol can inhibit the CCL20 expression induced by TNF-α in keratinocytes, which may be through regulating ERK, p38 MAPK and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation.

Key words: calcipotriol, TNF-α, CCL20, MAPKs, NF-κB