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

BACKGROUND: 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. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.