Comprehensive analysis of the expression of N6-methyladenosine RNA methylation regulators in pulmonary artery hypertension

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. The development of PAH involves N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification. However, the functional role of m6A regulators in PAH and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain unknown so far.Methods: Microarray data (GSE149713) for monocrotaline induced PAH (MCT-PAH) rat models were downloaded and screened for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and m6A regulators. Next, we screened for differentially expressed m6A regulators in endothelial cells (ECs), smooth muscle cells (SMCs), fibroblasts, interstitial macrophages, NK cells, B cells, T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) using scRNA sequencing data. The target DEGs of m6A regulators in ECs, SMCs, fibroblasts, and Tregs were functionally annotated using the Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis. In addition, the cellular interaction analysis was performed to reveal the receptor—ligand pairs regulated by m6A regulators. Pseudo-time trajectory analyses were performed and a ceRNA network of lncRNAs-miRNAs-mRNAs was constructed in SMCs. Furthermore, the RNA transcriptome sequencing data for the SMCs isolated from idiopathic PAH (IPAH) patients (GSE144274) were validated for differentially expressed m6A regulators. Moreover, the HNRNPA2B1 levels in the lung samples from PAH patients and MCT-PAH were determined using immunohistochemistry.Results: The m6A regulators were observed to be dysregulated in PAH. HNRNPA2B1expression level was increased in the PASMCs of scRNAs and IPAH patients. The target DEGs of HNRNPA2B1 were enriched in the regulation of muscle cell differentiation and vasculature development in PASMCs. The HNRNPA2B1 expression levels determined were consistent with the proliferation-related and collagen synthesis-related gene COL4A1. Moreover, the predicted transcription factors (TFs) foxd2/3 and NFκB could be involved in the regulation of HNRNPA2B1. HNRNPA2B1 might be regulating SMCs proliferation and phenotypic transition via rno-miR-330–3p/TGFβR3 and rno-miR-125a-3p/slc39a1. In addition, HNRNPA2B1 was observed to be highly expressed in the lung samples from MCT-PAH rat models and patients with PAH.Conclusion: In summary, the present study identified certain key functional m6A regulators that are involved in pulmonary vascular remodeling. The investigation of m6A patterns might be promising and provide biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment of PAH in the future.

Endothelial downregulation of nuclear m6A reader YTHDC1 promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling in sugen hypoxia model of pulmonary hypertension

“…A deeper understanding of PH mechanisms contributes to innovative and effectivetreatments [ 1 ]. In the past two years, studies have found RNA epigenetic modification, especially m6A methylation modification, plays an important role in the PH occurrence and deterioration [ 26 , 27 ].However, less is known about the effect of m6A regulators in mediating PH-associated vascular remodeling, especially, via regulating endothelial cell dysfunction. We explored the expression profiles in PAECS between SuHx PH mouse models and controls using single-cell sequencing data.…”

Analysis of m7G methylation modification patterns and pulmonary vascular immune microenvironment in pulmonary arterial hypertension

“…At present, the regulation of RNA methylation in diseases has been studied with m 6 A and m 5 C. M 5 C methylation can regulate tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization of lung adenocarcinoma and immune microenvironment of multiple myeloma (60,61). Interestingly, the m 6 A modulator may be a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment of PAH in the monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension model of rats (62)(63)(64). Currently, there is very little research on the effect of m 7 G methylation on PAH.…”

METTL3-m6A methylation inhibits Type II Alveolar Epithelial Cells proliferation and viability by promoting PTEN mRNA stability and translation efficiency in the acute lung injury

“…The dynamic process of m6A methylation involves several key proteins, including methyltransferases and demethylases 24,25 . Recent studies have shown that m6A methylation plays a role in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary brosis, lung cancer, and other diseases 26,27 . However, the role of m6A methylation in ALI has not been properly examined.…”