Methyltransferase-Like 3-Driven N6-Methyladenosine Modification of Recombination Signal Binding Protein for Immunoglobulin Kappa J Region Promotes Vascular Remodeling in Pulmonary Hypertension.

The dysregulation of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification is widely recognized for its crucial roles in various diseases, including pulmonary hypertension (PH). Prior studies have highlighted the significant role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3) in the pathogenesis of PH. Nevertheless, the potential and underlying mechanisms of METTL3 and its inhibitors as targets for PH treatment require further elucidation. In this study, increased levels of METTL3 were observed in various rodent models of PH. In vitro studies revealed that METTL3 silencing or treatment with STM2457, a specific METTL3 inhibitor, attenuated the proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB or hypoxia. Moreover, in vivo experiments using adeno-associated virus 9-mediated METTL3 silencing or STM2457 inhibition demonstrated improvement in SU5416/hypoxia-induced PH in mice. Additionally, m6A RNA immunoprecipitation analysis identified recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (RBPJ) regulated by METTL3 in rodent models of PH. Loss-of-function studies showed that silencing RBPJ could attenuate the changes in the proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells induced by platelet-derived growth factor-BB or hypoxia. Further studies indicated that METTL3 and YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA binding protein F1 (YTHDF1) regulated RBPJ mRNA expression in an m6A-dependent manner. These findings indicated that targeting METTL3 may be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating PH, and modulation of RBPJ could offer a potential intervention mechanism.