Effects of sleeve gastrectomy on N6-methyladenosine modification in duodenal tissue

OpenAlex · English

Purpose. In this study, the expression levels of METTL3, METTL14; and WTAP genes involved in the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) pathway, regulating cellular processes including cell renewal, differentiation, invasion; and apoptosis, were investigated in duodenal tissue after sleeve gastrectomy (SG). Material and Methods: Duodenal biopsies were obtained from 24 obese patients before (BG) and 6 months after (AG) sleeve gastrectomy. Pathological evaluation was performed by H&E staining. Expression levels of METTL14, METTL3, and WTAP genes were analysed by Real-Time PCR. Results: The METTL14 gene was significantly increased after surgery (BG-AG Median (Q1-Q3): 0.36 [0.07-1.52]-9.83 [0.20-68.12]). METTL3 (BG-AG Median (Q1-Q3): 0.49 [0.32-0.84]-0.67 [0.36-20.5]) and WTAP (BG-AG Median (Q1-Q3): 0.95 [0.17-7.65]-5.54 [2.34-66.07]) gene expressions were not altered. However, a strong positive (r=0.692) and significant relationship was found between METTL3 and WTAP. Chronic inflammation 81.32 %, intestinal metaplasia 10.54 %, activity 68.88 %, atrophy 5.32 %. No malignant findings were detected. Conclusion: For the first time, we demonstrated that sleeve gastrectomy may increase the expression of the METTL14 gene involved in the m6A-methyladenosine pathway in duodenum. This alteration may lead to gastrointestinal tract diseases.