Conditional Knockout of N-WASP in Keratinocytes Causes Skin Barrier Defects and Atopic Dermatitis-Like Inflammation

The study investigated the role of Neural-Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome Protein (N-WASP) in skin health by creating a conditional knockout mouse model lacking N-WASP in keratinocytes. These N-WASP K14KO mice were born normally but exhibited stunted growth, alopecia, and dry, wrinkled skin due to increased transepidermal water loss from skin barrier defects. By 10 weeks, they developed spontaneous inflammation, particularly in the neck and face, with histological analysis showing epidermal thickening, abnormal cornified layers, and immune cell infiltration. Elevated serum cytokines (IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17) were also observed. The findings suggested that N-WASP is crucial for maintaining skin barrier integrity and preventing inflammation.