PRMT6 mediates inflammation via activation of the NF-κB/p65 pathway on a cigarette smoke extract-induced murine emphysema model

INTRODUCTION: Smoke-driven lung inflammation is considered to be the major pathophysiology mechanism of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/emphysema. Protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) is a key epigenetic enzyme, which is related to protecting the tri-methylation of H3K4 (H3K4me3). We hypothesized that PTMT6 protects lung inflammation through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. METHODS: Mice were injected with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) or PBS to establish a mice model, intratracheally instilled with overexpressed PRMT6 or negative control vector. Morphometry of lung slides and lung function were measured. We determined the protein expression of PRMT6 and its related histone targets, the activation of NF-κB pathway, the level of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). RESULTS: After PRMT6 overexpression, the morphometry indexes and lung function were improved. Also, the expression of H3K4me3 was decreased. Overexpressed PRMT6 could suppress CSE-induced NF-κB activation and pro-inflammation genes expression. CONCLUSIONS: The overexpressed PRMT6 could serve as an inflammation inhibitor, potentially through blocking the NF-κB/p65 pathway in the murine emphysema model.