ZC3H13-Mediated m6A Modification Ameliorates Acute Myocardial Infarction through Preventing Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Ferroptosis by Targeting lncRNA93358.

Background: Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a life-threatening event that is associated with RNA modification and programmed cell death (PCD). This study attempted to investigate the impacts of zinc finger CCCH domain-containing protein 13 (ZC3H13)-mediated N6-methyladenosine (m6A) on ferroptosis in AMI.

Methods: The infarcted areas and cardiac function were evaluated, and the expression level of ZC3H13 was measured in AMI rats that were induced by isoproterenol. Meanwhile, oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) in vitro model was induced to investigate the alterations on inflammation, oxidative stress and ferroptosis. The m6A modification site of lncRNA93358 modified by ZC3H13 was predicted using bioinformatics, and the interaction between ZC3H13 and lncRNA93358 was verified using the dual-luciferase reporter assays. ZC3H13 was overexpressed and lncRNA93358 was silenced to study their regulatory role in cell death, inflammation, oxidative stress and ferroptosis in AMI.

Results: Significant decreased expression of ZC3H13 was observed in AMI rats, with impaired cardiac function, enhanced inflammation and oxidative stress. ZC3H13 targeted the modification site GGACC of lncRNA93358 and downregulated lncRNA93358. Silencing lncRNA93358 inhibited cell death, reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, suppressed oxidative stress-related indicators (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA), as well as downregulated ferroptosis-related acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). The effect of silencing lncRNA93358 was further enhanced by overexpression of ZC3H13.

Conclusion: This study reveals the ZC3H13-mediated epigenetic RNA modification targeting lncRNA93358 and suggests that ZC3H13 overexpression may be a promising approach for AMI treatment.