METTL14 knockdown inhibits the pyroptosis in the sepsis-induced acute lung injury through regulating the m6A modification of NLRP3

Background: Sepsis has become one of the main factors inducing the development of acute lung injury (ALI) in clinical practice. Currently, inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 mediated pyroptosis is the target of multiple drugs in the treatment of sepsis induced ALI. This study aimed to explore the effects of METTL14 on the pyroptosis in the sepsis induced ALI progression.Methods: LPS-stimulated A549 cells and cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-treated mice were used to establish the ALI model in vitro and in vivo. Then, the cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay. ELISA kits were used to determine the IL-18 and IL-1 beta contents. Pyroptosis rate was tested by flow cytometry. M6A dot blot was conducted to analyze the global m6A levels and MeRIP assay was performed to detect the m6A levels of NLRP3. The relationship between METTL14 and NLRP3 was confirmed by RIP and dual-luciferase report assays.Results: The global m6A levels were significantly increased in the LPS-stimulated A549 cells and CLP-treated mice. METTL14 knockdown decreased the cell viability, IL-18 and IL-1 beta contents, and pyroptosis rate of the LPS-stimulated A549 cells. Furthermore, the increase of pyroptosis-related proteins in LPS-stimulated A549 cells was significantly decreased after METTL14 knockdown. Additionally, METTL14 knockdown decreased the m6A and mRNA levels of NLRP3, and NLRP3 overexpression reversed the effects of METTL14 knockdown on the pyroptosis in the LPS-stimulated A549 cells. In CLP-treated mice, METTL14 knockdown relieved the injury and decreased the IL-18 and IL-1 beta contents in the lung tissues, serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.Conclusion: This study demonstrated that METTL14 knockdown inhibited the pyroptosis in the sepsis-induced ALI progression through decreasing the NLRP3 levels dependent on m6A methylation modification.