The role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) in kidney diseases

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Sep 28:10:1247690. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1247690. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Chemical modifications are a specific and efficient way to regulate the function of biological macromolecules. Among them, RNA molecules exhibit a variety of modifications that play important regulatory roles in various biological processes. More than 170 modifications have been identified in RNA molecules, among which the most common internal modifications include N6-methyladenine (m6A), n1-methyladenosine (m1A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and 7-methylguanine nucleotide (m7G). The most widely affected RNA modification is m6A, whose writers, readers, and erasers all have regulatory effects on RNA localization, splicing, translation, and degradation. These functions, in turn, affect RNA functionality and disease development. RNA modifications, especially m6A, play a unique role in renal cell carcinoma disease. In this manuscript, we will focus on the biological roles of m6A in renal diseases such as acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, lupus nephritis, diabetic kidney disease, and renal cancer.

Keywords: RNA modification; acute kidney injury; chronic kidney diseases; kidney diseases; m6A; renal cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

Grants and funding

The work was supported by Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine undergraduate research practice innovation project (ky-2023015, ky-2023081, and ky-2023083); Sichuan Cadre Health Research Project (2022-1001); and Sichuan Provincial Department of Science and Technology Scientific and Technological Achievement Transformation Project (2022JDZH0027).