N6-methyladenosine modification of FAAH mRNA in circSTAG1-regulated astrocyte dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors

Abstract Background N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant epigenetic modification in eukaryotic mRNAs and is essential for multiple RNA processing events in physiological and pathological processes. However, precisely how m6A methylation is involved in major depressive disorder (MDD) is not fully understood. Methods Circular RNA STAG1 (circSTAG1) was screened from the hippocampus of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) mice using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Microinjection of circSTAG1 lentivirus into mouse hippocampus was used to observe the role of circSTAG1 in depression. Sucrose preference, forced swimming and tail suspension tests were performed to evaluate the depressive-like behaviors of mice. Astrocyte dysfunction was examined by GFAP immunostaining and 3D reconstruction. Methylated RNA Immunoprecipitation (MeRIP) sequence analysis was used to identify downstream target of circSTAG1/ALKBH5 axis. CCK8 assay was performed to evaluate astrocyte viability in vitro. Results CircSTAG1 is significantly decreased in the chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) mouse hippocampus and MDD patient peripheral blood. Overexpression of circSTAG1 notably attenuated astrocyte dysfunction and depressive-like behaviors induced by CUS. Further examination indicated that overexpressed circSTAG1 captured ALKBH5 and decreased the translocation of ALKBH5 into the nucleus, leading to increased m6A methylation of FAAH mRNA and degradation of FAAH in astrocytes with subsequent attenuation of depressive-like behaviors and astrocyte loss induced by corticosterone in vitro. Conclusions Our findings dissect the functional link between circSTAG1 and m6A methylation in the context of MDD, providing evidence that circSTAG1 may be a novel therapeutic target for MDD.