N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification in Inflammation: Roles, Mechanisms, and Applications

Jiahui Luo; Tao Xu; Kai Sun

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.670711

N6-Methyladenosine RNA Modification in Inflammation: Roles, Mechanisms, and Applications

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Jun 4:9:670711. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.670711. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jiahui Luo¹, Tao Xu², Kai Sun³

Affiliations

¹ The Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
² Department of Rehabilitation, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
³ Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.

Abstract

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal mRNA modification. m6A can be installed by the methyltransferase complex and removed by demethylases, which are involved in regulating post-transcriptional expression of target genes. RNA methylation is linked to various inflammatory states, including autoimmunity, infection, metabolic disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, heart diseases, and bone diseases. However, systematic knowledge of the relationship between m6A modification and inflammation in human diseases remains unclear. In this review, we will discuss the association between m6A modification and inflammatory response in diseases, especially the role, mechanisms, and potential clinical application of m6A as a biomarker and therapeutic target for inflammatory diseases.

Keywords: N6-methyladenosine; RNA modification; epigenetics; inflammation; inflammatory disease.

Publication types

Review