Abstract

The process of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is complex, and its mechanism is considered multifactorial. Apoptosis of oxidative stressed nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) should be a fundamental element in the pathogenesis of IVDD. In our pilot study, we found that the expression of MAT2A decreased, and METTL16 increased in the degenerative nucleus pulposus tissues. Previous studies have shown that the balance of splicing, maturation, and degradation of MAT2A pre-mRNA is regulated by METTL16 m6A modification. In the current study, we aimed to figure out whether this mechanism was involved in the aberrant apoptosis of NPCs and IVDD. Human NPCs were isolated and cultured under oxidative stress. An IVDD animal model was established. It showed that significantly higher METTL16 expression and lower MAT2A expression were seen in either the NPCs under oxidative stress or the degenerative discs of the animal model. MAT2A was inhibited with siRNA in vitro or cycloleucine in vivo. METTL16 was overexpressed with lentivirus in vitro or in vivo. Downregulation of MAT2A or upregulation of METTL16 aggravated nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and disc disorganization. The balance of splicing, maturation, and degradation of MAT2A pre-mRNA was significantly inclined to degradation in the NPCs with the overexpression of METTL16. Increased apoptosis of NPCs under oxidative stress could be rescued by reducing the expression of METTL16 using siRNA with more maturation of MAT2A pre-mRNA. Collectively, oxidative stress aggravates apoptosis of NPCs through disrupting the balance of splicing, maturation, and degradation of MAT2A pre-mRNA, which is m6A modified by METTL16.