METTL3 Attenuates Inflammation in Fusarium solani-Induced Keratitis via the PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

PURPOSE. Our previous investigations revealed a significant role of methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m(6)A) modification in the development of corneal inflammation in Fusarium infection, but the exact mechanism is unknown. Therefore, this research aimed to explore how METTL3 affects the inflammatory process of fungal keratitis (FK) in mice. METHODS. We established in vitro and in vivo models by inoculating mice and primary corneal stromal cells with F. solani. METTL3 expression was confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence, and western blotting. After that, siRNAMETTL3 and AAV-sh-METTL3 were transfected into cells and mice to explore the role of METTL3 in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inflammation. PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT expression was analyzed by western blotting. Viability of corneal stromal cells was measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8). Additionally, we detected interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 beta, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) levels in corneal tissues and analyzed the role of METTL3 in inflammation in FK using slit-lamp biomicroscopy and hematoxylin and eosin staining. RESULTS. Here, our results show that METTL3 increased in mouse FK, and the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT decreased when METTL3 was downregulated. We also found that knockdown of METTL3 expression attenuated the inflammatory response and decreased TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-6 expression in corneal-infected mice. Furthermore, inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway attenuated the inflammatory response of FK, decreased the expression of the above inflammatory factors, and enhanced the viability of corneal stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS. Based on the study results, METTL3 downregulation attenuates Fusarium-induced corneal inflammation via the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.