METTL3-dependent RNA m(6)A dysregulation contributes to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease through aberrant cell cycle events

BACKGROUND: N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification of RNA influences fundamental aspects of RNA metabolism and m(6)A dysregulation is implicated in various human diseases. In this study, we explored the potential role of RNA m(6)A modification in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: We investigated the m(6)A modification and the expression of m(6)A regulators in the brain tissues of AD patients and determined the impact and underlying mechanism of manipulated expression of m(6)A levels on AD-related deficits both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: We found decreased neuronal m(6)A levels along with significantly reduced expression of m(6)A methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) in AD brains. Interestingly, reduced neuronal m(6)A modification in the hippocampus caused by METTL3 knockdown led to significant memory deficits, accompanied by extensive synaptic loss and neuronal death along with multiple AD-related cellular alterations including oxidative stress and aberrant cell cycle events in vivo. Inhibition of oxidative stress or cell cycle alleviated shMettl3-induced apoptotic activation and neuronal damage in primary neurons. Restored m(6)A modification by inhibiting its demethylation in vitro rescued abnormal cell cycle events, neuronal deficits and death induced by METTL3 knockdown. Soluble Aβ oligomers caused reduced METTL3 expression and METTL3 knockdown exacerbated while METTL3 overexpression rescued Aβ-induced synaptic PSD95 loss in vitro. Importantly, METTL3 overexpression rescued Aβ-induced synaptic damage and cognitive impairment in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these data suggested that METTL3 reduction-mediated m(6)A dysregulation likely contributes to neurodegeneration in AD which may be a therapeutic target for AD. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13024-021-00484-x.