m6A RNA Methylation Decreases Atherosclerotic Vulnerable Plaque Through Inducing T Cells

Chunmei Qi, Haoran Li, Yongshu Yu, Ji Hao, Hao Zhang, Lele Wang, Jingjing Jin, Qiang Zhou, Ya Hu, Chengmeng Zhang, Qingdui Zhang

Knockdown of fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) can induce N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) ribonucleic acid (RNA) methylation. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of m 6A RNA methylation on atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque by FTO knockdown. A total of 50 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into pure high-fat group, sham operation group, vulnerable plaque group, empty load group, and FTO knockdown group (10 rabbits/group). Flow cytometry showed that helper T (Th) cells in the FTO knockdown group accounted for a significantly higher proportion of lymphocytes than in the vulnerable plaque group and empty load group (P<0.05). Th cells were screened by cell flow. The level of m 6A RNA methylation in the FTO knockdown group was significantly higher than in the vulnerable plaque group and empty load group (P<0.05). The levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein C were higher at the 12th week than at the 1st week, but the high-density lipoprotein C level was lower at the 12th week than at the 1st week. At the 12th week, the interleukin-7 level was significantly lower in the adeno-associated virus-9 (AVV9)-FTO short hairpin RNA group than in the control and AVV9-green fluorescent protein groups (P<0.001). After successfully establishing a vascular parkinsonism rabbit model, m 6A RNA methylation can decrease Th cells and vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques.