METTL14‐mediated lncRNA‐FAS‐AS1 promotes osteoarthritis progression by up‐regulating ADAM8

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundOsteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative disease. We explored the role and regulatory mechanisms of lncRNA‐FAS‐AS1 in OA progression.MethodsWe exposed human immortalized chondrocytes to IL‐1β for 24 h to induce an OA cell model. The target molecule levels were assessed using western blot and quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR). Cell viability and apoptosis were measured using CCK‐8 and flow cytometry. The m6A modification of FAS‐AS1 was determined using MeRIP. We examined the binding relationships between FAS‐AS1, Fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1), and A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 8 (ADAM8) using RIP and RNA pull‐down. The OA animal model was established by separating the medial collateral ligament and medial meniscus. Safranin‐O staining and Mankin's scale were employed to evaluate pathological changes within the cartilage.ResultsFAS‐AS1, METTL14, and ADAM8 were upregulated, and the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway was activated in OA mice and IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes. FAS‐AS1 knockdown inhibited extracellular matrix degradation in IL‐1β‐induced chondrocytes; however, ADAM8 overexpression reversed this effect. FAS‐AS1 maintained the stability of ADAM8 mRNA by recruiting FMR1. METTL14 knockdown repressed FAS‐AS1 expression in an m6A‐dependent manner. FAS‐AS1 overexpression reversed the inhibitory effects of METTL14 knockdown on JAK/STAT3 signaling and cartilage damage in the OA model both in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionMETTL14‐mediated FAS‐AS1 promotes OA progression through the FMR1/ADAM8/JAK/STAT3 axis.