Brazilian Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery (Jun 2022)

m 6A RNA Methylation Decreases Atherosclerotic Vulnerable Plaque Through Inducing T Cells

  • Chunmei Qi,
  • Haoran Li,
  • Yongshu Yu,
  • Ji Hao,
  • Hao Zhang,
  • Lele Wang,
  • Jingjing Jin,
  • Qiang Zhou,
  • Ya Hu,
  • Chengmeng Zhang,
  • Qingdui Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.21470/1678-9741-2021-0039

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Introduction: Knockdown of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) can induce N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) ribonucleic acid (RNA) methylation. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of m 6A RNA methylation on atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque by FTO knockdown. Methods: A total of 50 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into pure high-fat group, sham operation group, vulnerable plaque group, empty load group, and FTO knockdown group (10 rabbits/group). Results: Flow cytometry showed that helper T (Th) cells in the FTO knockdown group accounted for a significantly higher proportion of lymphocytes than in the vulnerable plaque group and empty load group (P<0.05). Th cells were screened by cell flow. The level of m 6A RNA methylation in the FTO knockdown group was significantly higher than in the vulnerable plaque group and empty load group (P<0.05). The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein C were higher at the 12th week than at the 1st week, but the high-density lipoprotein C level was lower at the 12th week than at the 1st week. At the 12th week, the interleukin-7 level was significantly lower in the adeno-associated virus-9 (AVV9)-FTO short hairpin RNA group than in the control and AVV9-green fluorescent protein groups (P<0.001). Conclusion: After successfully establishing a vascular parkinsonism rabbit model, m 6A RNA methylation can decrease Th cells and vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.

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