Multifaceted Functions and Novel Insight Into the Regulatory Role of RNA N6-Methyladenosine Modification in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Wenchao Zhang; Lile He; Zhongyue Liu; Xiaolei Ren; Lin Qi; Lu Wan; Wanchun Wang; Chao Tu; Zhihong Li

doi:10.3389/fcell.2020.00870

Multifaceted Functions and Novel Insight Into the Regulatory Role of RNA N⁶-Methyladenosine Modification in Musculoskeletal Disorders

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2020 Sep 2:8:870. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00870. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Wenchao Zhang^{1

2}, Lile He^{2

3}, Zhongyue Liu^{1

2}, Xiaolei Ren^{1

2}, Lin Qi^{1

2}, Lu Wan^{1

2}, Wanchun Wang^{1

2}, Chao Tu^{1

2}, Zhihong Li^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedics, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Hunan Key Laboratory of Tumor Models and Individualized Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.

Abstract

RNA modifications have emerged as key regulators of transcript expression in diverse physiological and pathological processes. As one of the most prevalent types of RNA modifications, N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) has become the highlight in modulation of various diseases through interfering RNA splicing, translation, nuclear export, and decay. In many cases, the detailed functions of m⁶A in cellular processes and diseases remain unclear. Notably, recent studies have determined the relationship between m⁶A modification and musculoskeletal disorders containing osteosarcoma, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, etc. Herein, this review comprehensively summarizes the recent advances of m⁶A modification in pathogenesis and progression of musculoskeletal diseases. Specifically, the underlying molecular mechanisms, detection technologies, regulatory functions, clinical implications, and future perspectives of m⁶A in musculoskeletal disorders are discussed, with the aim to provide a novel insight into their association.

Keywords: FTO; METTL3; RNA N6-methyladenosine; epigenetics; musculoskeletal disorders.

Publication types

Review