Chinese Journal of Clinical Anatomy ›› 2021, Vol. 39 ›› Issue (6): 686-691.doi: 10.13418/j.issn.1001-165x.2021.06.013

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METTL3 regulates SPRING1 and promotes lipid accumulation in macrophages

Jia Bo1, Yang Zhou1, Yu Guangli1, Lv Yuncheng2, Peng Tianhong1   

  1. 1.Clinical Anatomy & Reproductive Medicine Application Institute, University of South China, Hengyang Medical College,  Hengyang 421001, Hunan Province, China; 2.Guangxi Key Laboratory of Diabetic System Medicine, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, Guangxi Province, China
  • Received:2021-05-26 Online:2021-11-25 Published:2021-12-01

Abstract: Objective    To investigate the effect and mechanism of METTL3 regulating SPRING1 on macrophage lipid accumulation.     Methods    After inducing the attachment of THP-1 cells with 100 ng/ml PMA, 50 μg/ml Ac-LDL was added to incubate THP-1 cells.  The protein levels of METTL3 and SPRING1 were detected by Western blot and the mRNA levels was detected by qRT-PCR. The total cholesterol (TC), cholesterol ester (CE) and free cholesterol (FC) were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). SRAMP and RMBase websites were used to analyze the m6A modification sites on the SPRING1 mRNA. The Oil red O staining and plasma membrane red fluorescent-labeled probe Dil-Ac-LDL were used to observe the uptake of lipid droplets in macrophages.   Results   Compared with the control group, the protein level of METTL3 and SPRING1 in THP-1 cells was upregulated; the SPRING1 mRNA level was also upregulated after Ac-LDL incubation. Overexpression of METTL3 upregulated the expression of SPRING1 protein, increased the uptake Dil-Ac-LDL by macrophages. While METTL3 silence obviously downregulated the expression of SPRING1 protein. Cycloleucine, as a methylation inhibitor, can partially inhibit the promotion of METTL3 overexpression on SPRING1. Bioinformatics analysis showed that there were m6A modification sites in SPRING1 mRNA.   Conclusions    METTL3 upregulates the expression of SPRING1 and promotes lipid accumulation in macrophages.

Key words: METTL3,  ,  , M6A,  ,  , SPRING1,  ,  , Lipid accumulation

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