LncRNA COL1A2‐AS1 promotes skin fibroblast apoptosis by repressing p‐Smad3 and promoting β‐catenin expression.

LncRNA COL1A2‐AS1 has been demonstrated to inhibit fibroblast proliferation of hypertrophic scars. However, the function of COL1A2‐AS1 in normal skin fibroblasts remains poorly studied. Here, we report that overexpression of COL1A2‐AS1 promoted normal skin fibroblast apoptosis. On the basis of mRNA‐seq data and gene set enrichment analysis plus Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis, 16 upregulated and 125 downregulated mRNAs were found; TGF‐β, Wnt, and MAPK pathways were potentially involved. Western blot assay confirmed that overexpression of COL1A2‐AS1 repressed p‐Smad3 expression and promoted β‐catenin expression. Furthermore, COL1A2‐AS1 overexpression combined with either TGF‐β1 or siRNA against β‐catenin reversed the upregulation of apoptosis in the COL1A2‐AS1 overexpression group. In conclusion, our study revealed the roles of COL1A2‐AS1 in normal skin fibroblast apoptosis, with COL1A2‐AS1 functioning by repressing p‐Smad3 expression and promoting β‐catenin expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]