CARD14/MALT1 signaling in keratinocytes: from molecular characterisation to validation as therapeutic target

Psoriasis is an auto-inflammatory disease that affects skin and other organs and leads to the
impaired quality of life. Approximately 2 to 3% of the worldwide population suffers from this
debilitating condition, the causes of which are currently poorly understood. A gene called CARD14
has been identified as a psoriasis susceptibility gene. Little is known about the biochemical
function and physiological role of the CARD14 protein.
The research group of Prof. Beyaert has recently shown that the paracaspase MALT1 interacts
with CARD14 in keratinocytes and is indispensable for signaling mediated by CARD14 and
psoriasis-associated CARD14 mutants. The aim of this project is to further unravel the CARD14-
mediated signaling cascade, identify novel CARD14-interacting proteins and to characterize the
role of CARD14 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis using CARD14 knock-out mice and gain-of function
CARD14 knock-in mouse models. Eventually, this should allow me to investigate the potential of
therapeutic targeting of the CARD14/MALT1 pathway in the treatment of psoriasis.