Pathogenesis of psoriasis via miR-149-5p/AKT1axis by long noncoding RNA BLACAT1

Psoriasis is a chronic, complicated, and recurrent inflammatory skin disease, whose precise molecular mechanisms need to be further explored. The lncRNA bladder cancer-associated transcript 1 (BLACAT1) is aberrantly expressed in many cancers and associated with cellular hyperproliferation and may play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Thus, this study aimed at identifying the primary mechanism associated with BLACAT1 in psoriasis pathogenesis.

Quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect the expression of BLACAT1 in psoriasis tissues. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were assessed using cell counting kit-8 and apoptosis assays, respectively. In vivo experiments and histopathological examinations were performed to investigate the effects of BLACAT1 on psoriasis. Dual-luciferase Reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation assays were used to evaluate the relationship among BLACAT1 and miR-149-5p and AKT1.

BLACAT1 was upregulated in psoriasis tissues. Overexpression exacerbated the clinical manifestation of psoriasis and increased the epidermal thickness in imiquimod-induced mice. BLACAT1 could promote proliferation and inhibit apoptosis of keratinocytes. Further studies demonstrated that BLACAT1 positively regulated AKT1 expression, functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by sponging miR-149-5p.

The combination of lncRNA BLACAT1 and miR-149-5p regulates AKT1 expression and promotes psoriasis formation thus may provide a new direction for psoriasis treatment.