Mettl3-m6A-NPY axis governing neuron–microglia interaction regulates sleep amount of mice

Abstract Sleep behavior is regulated by diverse mechanisms including genetics, neuromodulation and environmental signals. However, it remains completely unknown regarding the roles of epitranscriptomics in regulating sleep behavior. In the present study, we showed that the deficiency of RNA m6A meth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Qihang Sun, Jinpiao Zhu, Xingsen Zhao, Xiaoli Huang, Wenzheng Qu, Xia Tang, Daqing Ma, Qiang Shu, Xuekun Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Publishing Group 2025-02-01
Series:Cell Discovery
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41421-024-00756-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract Sleep behavior is regulated by diverse mechanisms including genetics, neuromodulation and environmental signals. However, it remains completely unknown regarding the roles of epitranscriptomics in regulating sleep behavior. In the present study, we showed that the deficiency of RNA m6A methyltransferase Mettl3 in excitatory neurons specifically induces microglia activation, neuroinflammation and neuronal loss in thalamus of mice. Mettl3 deficiency remarkably disrupts sleep rhythm and reduces the amount of non-rapid eye movement sleep. We also showed that Mettl3 regulates neuropeptide Y (NPY) via m6A modification and Mettl3 conditional knockout (cKO) mice displayed significantly decreased expression of NPY in thalamus. In addition, the dynamic distribution pattern of NPY is observed during wake-sleep cycle in cKO mice. Ectopic expression of Mettl3 and NPY significantly inhibits microglia activation and neuronal loss in thalamus, and restores the disrupted sleep behavior of cKO mice. Collectively, our study has revealed the critical function of Mettl3-m6A-NPY axis in regulating sleep behavior.
ISSN:2056-5968