The resident pathobiont Staphylococcus xylosus in Nfkbiz-deficient skin accelerates spontaneous skin inflammation

Abstract

IκBζ, which is encoded by the Nfkbiz gene, is a member of the nuclear IκB family of proteins that act as transcriptional regulators via association with NF-κB. Nfkbiz-deficient (Nfkbiz^−/−) mice develop spontaneous dermatitis; however, the underlying mechanism has yet to be elucidated. In our study, we found higher skin pathology scores and more serum IgE antibodies and trans-epidermal water loss in Nfkbiz^−/− than in Nfkbiz-sufficient (Nfkbiz^+/−) mice. There was also greater expansion of IFN-γ-, IL-17A-, and IL-22-secreting CD4⁺ T cells and of IL-17A-secreting γδ⁺ T cells in the skin of Nfkbiz^−/− mice than in with Nfkbiz^+/− mice. Pyrosequencing analysis showed decreased diversity of resident bacteria and markedly expanded Staphylococcus (S.) xylosus in the skin of Nfkbiz^−/− mice. Oral administration of antibiotics including cephalexin and enrofloxacin ameliorated skin inflammation. Topical application of S. xylosus also resulted in the expansion of IL-17A-secreting CD4⁺ T cells along with high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the skin of Nfkbiz^−/− mice. The expansion of commensal S. xylosus may be one cause of skin dysbiosis in Nfkbiz^−/− mice and suggests that the Nfkbiz gene may play a regulatory role in the microbiota-skin immunity axis.