Oleic acid suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation to prevent dermal macrophage death and limit imiquimod-induced psoriasis

Oral oleic acid supplementation normalized serum oleic acid and protected against skin thickening and epidermal hyperplasia in an imiquimod-induced psoriasis mouse model.

• Why it matters: Psoriasis involves altered lipid metabolism and reduced circulating oleic acid, but it is unclear whether restoring lipid fitness can limit psoriasiform inflammation by preserving key immune cells.
• What they did: In imiquimod mice, oleic acid preserved dermal macrophage numbers and reduced psoriasis-associated inflammatory markers; mechanistically, it suppressed NLRP3/caspase-1 inflammasome activation and macrophage death in vitro.
• The result: Dermal macrophage survival emerges as a checkpoint in psoriasiform inflammation, and oleic acid suggests a mechanism-based strategy that targets lipid metabolic fitness upstream of inflammatory mediators.

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