ULK1 is strongly linked to autophagy, proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation. Keratinocytes in psoriasis is characterized by excessive proliferation, reduced apoptosis, altered differentiation and increased cytokine secretion. The role of ULK1 in psoriasis has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of our work was to clarify the expression pattern of ULK1 in psoriatic lesions and its role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. We found that the epidermal expression of ULK1 protein and its active form of p-ULK1 was significantly lower in psoriasis patients than in healthy controls . The inhibition of ULK1 and p-ULK1 by siRAN transfection and co-incubation with p-ULK1 inhibitor promoted cell apoptosis, suppressed cell proliferation, migration and inflammatory factors expression, such as IL-1Beta, IL-6, CXCL-8 and TNF-Alpha. With the administration of p-ULK1 inhibitor for consecutive 8 days, the imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice presented less skin damages monitored by the reduction of the PASI score, epidermal thickness, and the epidermal expression of CD3 in epidermis . In conclusion, the low expression of ULK1and p-ULK1 in the epidermis of psoriasis alleviates psoriatic dermatitis by reversing the pathological changes of keratinocytes.

ULK1 alleviates psoriatic dermatitis by reversing the pathological changes of keratinocytes.