Methyltransferase METTL3 regulates osteogenic differentiation of canine JBMMSCs by mediating m6A methylation.

Objective: To explore the effect of methyltransferase METTL3 on the proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of jaw bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (JBMMSCs). Methods: JBMMSCs were cultured in vitro and transfected with lentivirus to construct a cell model of silencing METTL3 gene. After transfection, the mRNA level (P<0.001) and protein level (P<0.01) of JBMMSCs in the siMETTL3 group decreased. The proliferation, migration, alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium deposition, and osteogenesis-related factors osteocalcin(OCN)mRNA and protein level of the two groups of JBMMSCs were detected. Results: Compared with the siNC group, the proliferation activity of the siMETTL3 group decreased after 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of culture (all P<0.001), and the cell migration ability decreased after 24 h (P<0.05). The activity of alkaline phosphatase in the siMETTL3 group decreased after 7 days of osteogenic induction, and the mineralization deposition after 21 days was less than that in the siNC group. qRT-PCR and Western blot showed that the mRNA level(P<0.001) and protein expression level(P<0.05) of OCN reduced. Conclusion: Silencing METTL3 can inhibit the proliferation, migration and osteogenic differentiation of JBMMSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]