AUTHOR=Gao Haibing , Wang Xiangmei , Ma Huaxi , Lin Shenglong , Zhang Dongqing , Wu Wenjun , Liao Ziyuan , Chen Mengyun , Li Qin , Lin Minghua , Li Dongliang 

TITLE=METTL16 regulates m6A methylation on chronic hepatitis B associated gene HLA-DPB1 involved in liver fibrosis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.996245

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.996245

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>The role of genetic factors in the occurrence and progression of CHB (CHB) is still not fully explored. In recent years, genome-wide association studies on CHB patients have demonstrated that a large number of CHB-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms exist in the gene intron, which may regulate expression at the transcriptional level. Modification of RNA m<sup>6</sup>A methylation is one of the key mechanisms regulating gene expression. Here we show that <italic>METTL16</italic>, an m<sup>6</sup>A regulator involved in mRNA intron splicing, is differentially expressed in CHB the tissue of patients who has definite diagnosis of mild and severe fibrosis. At the same time, there are also significant differences in the expression of CHB-associated genes such as <italic>HLA-DPA1</italic> and <italic>HLA-DPB1</italic>. The expression of <italic>HLA-DPB1</italic> is related to <italic>METTL16</italic>. Furthermore, analyses of RNA binding of METTL16 and <italic>HLA-DPB1</italic> show that the silencing of <italic>METTL16</italic> in astrocytes downregulates m<sup>6</sup>A and expression of HLA-DPB1. In conclusion, <italic>METTL16</italic> participates in the progression of CHB fibrosis by regulating the m<sup>6</sup>A level and expression of HLA-DPB1.</p>