# Copper-based nanozymes synergistically enhance Cuproptosis for psoriasis treatment

## TL;DR

Copper-based nanozymes trigger a new cell death pathway called cuproptosis to treat psoriasis by reducing skin inflammation and cell proliferation.

## Contribution

A copper-based nanozyme was developed to synergistically enhance cuproptosis for psoriasis treatment through cascade catalytic therapy.

## Key findings

- Cu-NZs exhibited multi-enzymatic activities that generated ROS and triggered cuproptosis in keratinocytes.
- Topical Cu-NZs gel reduced psoriatic symptoms in mice without systemic toxicity.
- Cu-NZs modulated cuproptosis-related genes (DLAT, FDX1, LIAS) and inhibited inflammatory responses.

## Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by abnormal keratinocyte proliferation and sustained skin inflammation. Cuproptosis, a novel regulated cell death pathway, inhibits proliferation by promoting cellular demise, offering a promising therapeutic strategy for psoriasis. Herein, we first identified that cuproptosis induction is a potential therapeutic avenue for psoriasis treatment. Then, a copper-based nanozyme (Cu-NZ) was developed to enhance cuproptosis through cascade catalytic therapy, leveraging multi-enzymatic effects for psoriasis treatment. The Cu-NZs exhibited distinct multi-enzymatic activities, including catalase (CAT)-, superoxide dismutase (SOD)-, oxidase (OXD)-, and peroxidase (POD)-like activities, which sustained the generation of cytotoxic Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), relieved hypoxia via O2 release, and ultimately triggered augmented cuproptosis. In vitro results demonstrated that Cu-NZs suppressed HaCaT cells proliferation and inflammatory factor expression while inducing mitochondrial dysfunction through ROS elevation. Mechanistically, Cu-NZs modulated the expression of cuproptosis-related genes and proteins (DLAT, FDX1, LIAS). In vivo studies confirmed that topical Cu-NZs gel significantly alleviated imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic phenotypes in mice without inducing systemic organ toxicity. Collectively, Cu-NZs mitigated psoriasis manifestations by triggering cuproptosis in keratinocytes, thereby inhibiting their pathological activation and proliferation. These findings provided a theoretical foundation for the clinical translation of Cu-NZs-based therapies.

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