NAT10 promotes synovial aggression by increasing the stability and translation of N4-acetylated PTX3 mRNA in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

Recent studies indicate that N-acetyltransferase 10 (NAT10)-mediated ac4C modification plays unique roles in tumour metastasis and immune infiltration. This study aimed to uncover the role of NAT10-mediated ac4C in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) functions and synovial immune cell infiltration in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

FLSs were obtained from active established patients with RA. Protein expression was determined by western blotting or immunohistochemistry or multiplexed immunohistochemistry. Cell migration was measured using a Boyden chamber. ac4C-RIP-seq combined with RNA-seq was performed to identify potential targets of NAT10. RNA immunoprecipitation was used to validate the interaction between protein and mRNA. NAT10 haploinsufficiency, inhibitor remodelin or intra-articular Adv-NAT10 was used to suppress arthritis in mice with delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis (DYHA) and collagen II-induced arthritis (CIA) and rats with CIA.

RESULTS

We found elevated levels of NAT10 and ac4C in FLSs and synovium from patients with RA. NAT10 knockdown or specific inhibitor treatment reduced the migration and invasion of RA FLSs. Increased NAT10 level in the synovium was positively correlated with synovial infiltration of multiple types of immune cells. NAT10 inhibition in vivo attenuated the severity of arthritis in mice with CIA and DTHA, and rats with CIA. Mechanistically, we explored that NAT10 regulated RA FLS functions by promoting stability and translation efficiency of N4-acetylated PTX3 mRNA. PTX3 also regulated RA FLS aggression and is associated with synovial immune cell infiltration.

CONCLUSION

Our findings uncover the important roles of NAT10-mediated ac4C modification in promoting rheumatoid synovial aggression and inflammation, indicating that NAT10 may be a potential target for the treatment of RA, even other dysregulated FLSs-associated disorders.