Integrated Analysis of m6A Methylome in Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Berberine Alleviation in Mouse

Abstract

BackgroundN6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant modification known in mRNAs. It participates in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, such as metabolism, inflammation, and apoptosis.AimsTo explore the mechanism of m6A in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and berberine alleviation in mouse.MethodsThis study investigated the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylome of kidneys from three mouse groups: C57 mice (controls), those with CI-AKI (injury group, IG), and those pretreated with berberine (treatment group, TG). Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation Next Generation Sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and RNA-seq were performed to identify the differences between the injury group and the control group (IvC) and between the treatment group and the injury group (TvI). Western blotting was performed to identify the protein levels of candidate genes.ResultsIn IvC, differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were enriched in metabolic processes and cell death. In TvI, DMGs were enriched in tissue development. Several genes involved in important pathways related to CI-AKI showed opposite methylation and expression trends in the IvC and TvI comparisons.Conclusionm6A plays an important role in cisplatin induced AKI and berberine may alleviate this process.