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MicroRNA-520a suppresses the proliferation and mitosis of HaCaT cells by inactivating protein kinase B

Rui Wang1, Zigang Zhao1, Liqiang Zheng1

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Medical College of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine
|December 30, 2017
PubMed

Insights

MicroRNA-520a (miR-520a) inhibits skin cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in psoriasis by targeting protein kinase B (AKT). This suggests miR-520a and AKT are potential therapeutic targets for psoriasis treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with poorly understood mechanisms.
  • Altered keratinocyte differentiation and skin hyperplasia are key pathological features.
  • Current treatment strategies for psoriasis are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of microRNA-520a (miR-520a) in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying miR-520a's function in skin cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized HaCaT cells (a human keratinocyte cell line) to model psoriasis.
  • Assessed the effect of miR-520a on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and mitotic entry.
  • Investigated miR-520a's direct regulation of protein kinase B (AKT) at mRNA and protein levels.
  • Employed siRNA to silence AKT expression and evaluate its impact on cell behavior.

Main Results:

  • miR-520a significantly inhibited HaCaT cell proliferation and mitotic entry.
  • miR-520a promoted apoptosis in HaCaT cells.
  • miR-520a was found to directly regulate both mRNA and protein expression of AKT.
  • Silencing of AKT expression using siRNA also suppressed HaCaT cell proliferation.

Conclusions:

  • miR-520a regulates HaCaT cell survival by inhibiting AKT expression.
  • miR-520a and AKT represent potential novel therapeutic targets for psoriasis treatment.
Keywords:
keratinocytesmicroRNAmitosisproliferationpsoriasis

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