• METTL3 and m6A methylation are upregulated in hypertrophic scar tissues compared to normal skin, suggesting a role in HS pathogenesis.
• Knockdown of METTL3 in HS fibroblasts reduces collagen and α-SMA expression, inhibits proliferation and migration, and induces G1 phase arrest.
• METTL3 promotes maturation of pri-miR-31 to miR-31-5p via m6A modification, and miR-31-5p partially reverses the anti-fibrotic effects of METTL3 inhibition.
• ZBTB20 is identified as a downstream target of miR-31-5p, and its knockdown inhibits fibroblast fibrosis, revealing a novel therapeutic target for HS.