Role of METTL3 in Aerobic Glycolysis of Glioma by Regulating m6A/miR-27b-3p/PDK1

Methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3) has been reported to be dysregulated in glioma. However, its role in aerobic glycolysis of glioma remains unknown. This study was conducted to explore the molecular mechanism by which METTL3 regulates aerobic glycolysis of glioma and provide novel targets for the treatment of glioma. The expression levels of METTL3, microRNA (miR)-27b-3p, and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1) were determined in glioma cell lines and normal human astrocytes. Cell proliferation and aerobic glycolysis were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays and measurements of glucose uptake, lactate production, adenosine triphosphate, Hexokinase activity, oxygen consumption rate, and extracellular acidification rate. After m6A quantification analysis, methylated RNA immunoprecipitation, and the dual-luciferase assay, the rescue experiments were performed using miR-27b-3p inhibitor or pcDNA3.1-PDK1 with pcDNA3.1-METTL3. METTL3 was lower in glioma cells and METTL3 overexpression reduced aerobic glycolysis. METTL3 increased m6A modification to promote the processing of pri-miR-27b by DGCR8 and the expression of mature miR-27b-3p, and miR-27b-3p targeted and inhibited PDK1 expression. miR-27b-3p inhibition or PDK1 overexpression both neutralized the inhibitory role of METTL3 overexpression in aerobic glycolysis. Overall, METTL3 overexpression increased the expression of mature miR-27b-3p via m6A modification and inhibited PDK1 expression, thus suppressing aerobic glycolysis of glioma.