WTAP-mediated m⁶A modification of lncRNA NORAD promotes intervertebral disc degeneration

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent RNA modification at the posttranscriptional level and involved in various diseases and cellular processes. However, the underlying mechanism of m⁶A regulation in intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) remains elusive. Here, we show that methylation of the lncRNA NORAD significantly increases in senescent nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) by m⁶A sequencing. Subsequent loss- and gain-of-function experiments reveal WTAP is increased in senescent NPCs due to an epigenetic increase in H3K4me3 of the promoter mediated by KDM5a, and significantly promotes NORAD m⁶A modification. Furthermore, YTHDF2-mediated decay of NORAD is enhanced in senescent NPCs, and then deficiency of NORAD results in less sequestraion of PUMILIO proteins, contributing to the augmented activity of PUM1/2, thus repressing the expression of target E2F3 mRNAs and promoting the cellular senescence. Here, we show interruption of NORAD m⁶A modification or the NORAD/PUMILIO/E2F3 axis could serve as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit the senescence of NPCs and development of IVDD.