ALKBH5-YTHDF2 m6A modification axis inhibits rheumatoid arthritis progression by suppressing NLRP3

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. Recently, NLRP3 has been demonstrated to be closely related to RA. The objective of our research was to analyze the specific mechanism of NLRP3 in RA. The m6A levels of NLRP3 was detected with methylated RNA immuno-precipitation (MeRIP) kit. The mRNA and protein levels of related genes were tested with RT-qPCR and Western blot. The inflammatory factors levels were detected with ELISA kits. The cell proliferative ability was measured with CCK-8 and EdU staining assays. NLRP3 levels was prominently in synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) from RA patients. NLRP3 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels. Additionally, ALKBH5 was found to bind with NLRP3, and ALKBH5 silencing suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels while NLRP3 overexpressing neutralized the role of ALKBH5 in FLS. Furthermore, m6A modified induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA, and NLRP3 is a hinge factor in RA progression.(c) 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the specific mechanism of NLRP3 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It was found that NLRP3 levels were increased in synovial tissues and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) of RA patients. Silencing NLRP3 suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels. Additionally, it was discovered that ALKBH5 binds with NLRP3 and its silencing also suppressed FLS proliferation and inflammatory factor levels, while NLRP3 overexpression neutralized the role of ALKBH5 in FLS. Furthermore, m6A modification induced by ALKBH5 suppressed NLRP3 mRNA level through YTHDC2 in RA, and NLRP3 was identified as a key factor in RA progression.