Chen Shengjun, Wang Yujie, Zhang Jinjin, Liu Bo, Liu Weili, Cao Guohong, Li Rongrong, Li Hongbo, Zhai Nailiang, Song Xiaodong, Zhang Songzi, Lv Changjun
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, China.
Department of Cellular and Genetic Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China.
Cell Death Dis. 2025 Apr 12;16(1):279. doi: 10.1038/s41419-025-07608-x.
Fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation is the main cytopathologic characteristic of pulmonary fibrosis. However, its underlying molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. This study elucidated that the nuclear export of lncNONMMUT062668.2 (lnc668) exacerbated pulmonary fibrosis by activating fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. Mechanistic research revealed that histone H3K9 lactylation in the promoter region of the N6-methyladenosine (mA) writer METTL3 was enriched to enhance METTL3 transcription, leading to the lnc668 mA modification. Meanwhile, the mA reader YTHDC1 recognized mA-modified lnc668 and elevated the METTL3-mediated lnc668 modification. Subsequently, phase-separating YTHDC1 promoted the nuclear export of mA-modified lnc668. In this process, the phase-separating YTHDC1 formed a nuclear pore complex with serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 3, Aly/REF export factor, and exportin-5 to assist the translocation of mA-modified lnc668 from nucleus to cytoplasm. After nuclear export, lnc668 facilitated the translation and stability of its host gene phosphatidylinositol-binding clathrin assembly protein to activate fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation, leading to the aggravation of pulmonary fibrosis, which also depended on YTHDC1 phase separation. This study first clarified that YTHDC1 phase separation is crucial for the mA modification, nuclear export, and profibrotic role of lnc668 in exacerbating pulmonary fibrosis. These findings provide new insights into the nuclear export of cytoplasmic lncRNAs and identified potential targets for pulmonary fibrosis therapy.
成纤维细胞向肌成纤维细胞的分化是肺纤维化的主要细胞病理学特征。然而,其潜在的分子机制仍知之甚少。本研究阐明,长链非编码RNA lncNONMMUT062668.2(lnc668)的核输出通过激活成纤维细胞向肌成纤维细胞的分化而加重肺纤维化。机制研究表明,N6-甲基腺苷(m⁶A)甲基转移酶METTL3启动子区域的组蛋白H3K9乳酸化富集,增强了METTL3的转录,导致lnc668的m⁶A修饰。同时,m⁶A阅读蛋白YTHDC1识别m⁶A修饰的lnc668并增强METTL3介导的lnc668修饰。随后,发生相分离的YTHDC1促进了m⁶A修饰的lnc668的核输出。在此过程中,发生相分离的YTHDC1与富含丝氨酸/精氨酸的剪接因子3、Aly/REF输出因子和输出蛋白5形成核孔复合物,协助m⁶A修饰的lnc668从细胞核转运到细胞质。核输出后,lnc668促进其宿主基因磷脂酰肌醇结合网格蛋白组装蛋白的翻译和稳定性,激活成纤维细胞向肌成纤维细胞的分化,导致肺纤维化加重,这也依赖于YTHDC1的相分离。本研究首次阐明,YTHDC1相分离对于lnc668在加重肺纤维化中的m⁶A修饰、核输出及促纤维化作用至关重要。这些发现为细胞质长链非编码RNA的核输出提供了新的见解,并确定了肺纤维化治疗的潜在靶点。
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