FTO-mediated m6A demethylation of pri-miR-3591 alleviates osteoarthritis progression

OBJECTIVES: Increasing evidence have demonstrated the N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) plays critical roles in osteoarthritis (OA) progression, but the role of m(6)A in OA has not been completely illuminated. Herein, we investigated the function and underlying mechanism of m(6)A demethylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in OA progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The FTO expression was detected in mice OA cartilage tissues and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated chondrocytes. Gain-of-function assays was used to evaluate the role of FTO in OA cartilage injury in vitro and in vivo. The miRNA-sequencing, RNA-binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP), luciferase reporter assay, and in vitro pri-miRNA processing assays were conducted to confirm that FTO modulated the pri-miR-3591 process in an m6A-dependent manner and then the binding sites of miR-3591-5p with PRKAA2. RESULTS: FTO was outstandingly downregulated in LPS-stimulated chondrocytes and OA cartilage tissues. FTO overexpression enhanced the proliferation, suppressed apoptosis, and decreased degradation of extracellular matrix in LPS-induced chondrocytes, whereas FTO knockdown contributed to the opposite effects. In vivo animal experiments showed that FTO overexpression markedly alleviated OA mice cartilage injury. Mechanically, FTO-mediated m6A demethylation of pri-miR-3591 leaded to a maturation block of miR-3591-5p, which relieved the inhibitory effect of miR-3591-5p on PRKAA2 and then promoted the increase of PRKAA2, thereby alleviating OA cartilage damage. CONCLUSIONS: Our results attested that FTO alleviated the OA cartilage damage by mediating FTO/miR-3591-5p/PRKAA2 axis, which provided fresh insights into the therapeutic strategies for OA. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13075-023-03035-5.