2. Academic Validation
  3. Alterations of the m6A Methylation Induced by TGF-β2 in ARPE-19 Cells

Alterations of the m6A Methylation Induced by TGF-β2 in ARPE-19 Cells

  • Front Biosci (Landmark Ed). 2023 Jul 24;28(7):148. doi: 10.31083/j.fbl2807148.
Xueru Zhao 1 2 3 4,  Xue Li 1 2 3 4,  Lingke Li 1 4,  Yongya Zhang 1 3,  Fei Wu 1 3,  Ruijie Yin 1 2 3 4,  Min Yuan 1 2 3 4,  Xiaohua Li 1 2 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, 450003 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
  • 2 Henan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Henan Eye Hospital, Henan Eye Institute, 450003 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
  • 3 Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450003 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
  • 4 Department of Ophthalmology, People's Hospital of Henan University, 450003 Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
PMID: 37525909 DOI: 10.31083/j.fbl2807148
Abstract

Background: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) participates in diverse physiological processes and contributes to many pathological conditions. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigmental epithelial (RPE) cells plays an essential role in retinal-related diseases, and transforming growth factor β2 (TGF-β2) is known to induce EMT in vitro. However, the effect of TGF-β2 on m6A methylation in RPE cells is not yet known.

Methods: RNA-seq and MeRIP-seq were performed to analyze changes at the mRNA and m6A levels after TGF-β2 treatment of human ARPE-19 cells. mRNA levels and total m6A levels were subsequently validated.

Results: Sequencing revealed 929 differentially expressed genes and 7328 differentially methylated genes after TGF-β2 treatment. Conjoint analysis identified 290 genes related to microtubule Cytoskeleton, focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, cell division, cell cycle, AGE-RAGE, PI3K-Akt and cGMP-PKG pathways. Further analysis revealed that 12 EMT-related genes were altered at the mRNA and m6A levels after TGF-β2 treatment (CALD1, CDH2, FN1, MMP2, SPARC, KRT7, CLDN3, ELF3, FGF1, LOXL2, SHROOM3 and TGFBI). Moreover, the total m6A level was also reduced.

Conclusions: This study revealed the transcriptional profiling of m6A modification induced by TGF-β2 in RPE cells. Novel connections were discovered between m6A modification and TGF-β2-induced EMT, suggesting that m6A may play crucial roles in the EMT process.

Keywords

EMT; MeRIP-seq; RPE cells; TGF-β2; m6A methylation; transcriptomics.

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