Molecular mechanism of Wilms tumour 1-associated protein in diabetes-related dry eye disease by mediating m6A methylation modification of lncRNA NEAT1

WTAP suppresses STAT3 via m6A methylation to regulate autophagy and inflammation in central nervous system injury

Central nervous system (CNS) repair after injury is a challenging process limited by inflammation and neuronal apoptosis. This study identifies Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP) as a pivotal regulator of neuronal protection and repair through m6A methylation of STAT3 mRNA. By employing spinal cord injury (SCI) as a representative model of CNS injury, transcriptomic analyses reveal WTAP as a key mediator of pathways related to neuronal autophagy and inflammation regulation. WTAP enhances neuronal autophagy by suppressing STAT3 expression and activity, which inhibits the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway. Functional studies demonstrate that WTAP knockdown exacerbates neuronal apoptosis, whereas overexpression improves cell viability, autophagy, and motor recovery. In vivo, WTAP promotes SCI repair via m6A-mediated suppression of STAT3 and regulation of the NLRP3 signaling pathway, highlighting its therapeutic potential for CNS injury repair.

WTAP-mediated m6A modification regulates NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD to inhibit pyroptosis and exacerbate colorectal cancer

Aim: Wilms' tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP), plays a part in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, it is not yet known how WTAP affects cancer progression by influencing leukocyte rich repeat containing proteins (NLR) - family members 3 (NLRP3) - related inflammasomes.Materials & methods: We first validated the expression of WTAP in CRC at the tissue and cellular levels. Subsequently, by transfecting si-NC and si-WTAP into cells, we verified functions of WTAP in proliferation, invasion, migration and apoptosis of CRC cells. Finally, we analyzed the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of NLRP3 by WTAP using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-qPCR technology, confirming that WTAP mediated the repression of NLRP3 inflammasome and the malignant progression of tumor cells.Results: WTAP was substantially upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. WTAP reinforced the migration, proliferation and invasion ability of CRC cells, and repressed apoptosis. Mechanistically, WTAP mediated the m6A modification of NLRP3, which suppressed the expression of NLRP3 and dampened the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis activation as well as pyroptosis, thereby facilitating the malignant progression of CRC.Conclusion: WTAP mediates m6A modification to modulate the repression of the NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD axis in pyroptosis, reinforcing the malignant progression of CRC.

The m6A-ncRNAs axis in diabetes complications: novel mechanism and therapeutic potential

Diabetes, a multifaceted metabolic disorder, poses a significant global health burden with its increasing prevalence and associated complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, and diabetic angiopathy. Recent studies have highlighted the intricate interplay between N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in key pathways implicated in these diabetes complications, like cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Thus, understanding the mechanistic insights into how m6A dysregulation impacts the expression and function of ncRNAs opens new avenues for therapeutic interventions targeting the m6A-ncRNAs axis in diabetes complications. This review explores the regulatory roles of m6A modifications and ncRNAs, and stresses the role of the m6A-ncRNA axis in diabetes complications, providing a therapeutic potential for these diseases.

NEAT1 Deficiency Promotes Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing by Activating cAMP Signaling Pathway

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the role of the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 in corneal epithelial wound healing in mice.

Methods

The central corneal epithelium of wild-type (WT), MALAT1 knockout (M-KO), NEAT1 knockout (N-KO), and NEAT1 knockdown (N-KD) mice was scraped to evaluate corneal epithelial and nerve regeneration rates. RNA sequencing of the corneal epithelium from WT and N-KO mice was performed 24 hours after debridement to determine the role of NEAT1. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and ELISA were used to confirm the bioinformatic analysis. The effects of the cAMP signaling pathway were evaluated in N-KO and N-KD mice using SQ22536, an adenylate cyclase inhibitor.

Results

Central corneal epithelial debridement in N-KO mice significantly promoted epithelial and nerve regeneration rates while suppressing inflammatory cell infiltration. Furthermore, the expression of Atp1a2, Ppp1r1b, Calm4, and Cngb1, which are key components of the cAMP signaling pathway, was upregulated in N-KO mice, indicative of its activation. Furthermore, the cAMP pathway inhibitor SQ22536 reversed the accelerated corneal epithelial wound healing in both N-KO and N-KD mice.

Conclusions

NEAT1 deficiency contributes to epithelial repair during corneal wound healing by activating the cAMP signaling pathway, thereby highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for corneal epithelial diseases.