IQGAP Genes in Psoriasis

IQGAP proteins coordinate cell signaling cascades acting as scaffolds for assembly of multiprotein complexes. They mediate growth factor signaling, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell proliferation and migration. All of these pathways are important for the pathogenesis of psoriasis, so we suggested that the genes of the IQGAP family may play important roles in the development of this disease. qPCR analysis of the IQGAP1 , IQGAP2 , and IQGAP3 expression in skin of psoriasis patients showed the genes to be differentially expressed, with IQGAP1 being downregulated and IQGAP3 upregulated. Next we conducted a bioinformatic analysis of IQGAP protein partners in order to identify the protein interactions which would explain the difference between the lesional and visually nonlesional psoriatic skin. On the basis of the meta-analysis of the RNAseq data and the protein-protein interaction databases, we constructed IQGAP PPI graphs which highlighted the IQGAP protein partners involved in psoriasis. Therefore, our studies confirmed the hypothesis on the role of the IQGAP family in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.