Changes of plasma METTL3, WTAP and FTO levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and their correlation with clinical indicators / 中国医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the clinical significance of N6-methyladenine (m6A) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by comparing the changes in plasma levels of m6A modification related proteins [methyltransferase 3 (METTL3), methyltransferase 14 (METTL14), Wilms tumor 1 associated protein (WTAP), AlkB homologous protein 5 (ALKBH5), and fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO)] and m6A between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy controls.Methods:A total of 64 SLE patients admitted to the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University from May 2020 to June 2022 and 24 healthy volunteers during the same period were selected to compare and analyze the plasma levels of METTL3, METTL14, WTAP, ALKBH5, FTO and m6A between the two groups. The correlation between METTL3, WTAP, FTO levels and clinical indicators was analyzed.Results:The plasma METTL3 level of SLE patients was significantly higher than that of control group ( P<0.05), and the plasma WTAP and FTO levels were significantly lower than those of control group (all P<0.05). In SLE patients, plasma METTL3 level was negatively correlated with hemoglobin level ( r=-0.344, P<0.05), plasma FTO level was positively correlated with plasma IgM level ( r=0.337, P<0.05), and plasma IgA level was negatively correlated with SLE patients ( r=-0.286, P<0.05). The incidence of renal involvement and positive rate of plasma anti-histone antibody were higher in SLE patients with high METTL3 level (all P<0.05). The positive rates of plasma anti-dsDNA antibody, anti-SM antibody and AuaA antibody were higher in SLE patients with low FTO level (all P<0.05). Conclusions:The plasma METTL3 level in SLE patients are significantly increased, while the plasma WTAP and FTO levels are significantly reduced, which are related to various clinical indicators and may be related to the onset of SLE.