Keratoconjunctivitis is the most common complication of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). It has always been a hot research topic due to its complex pathogenesis. A further understanding of keratoconjunctiva xerosis can be obtained by studying the primary diseases. 7-Methylguanine (m7G), N6-methyladenosine (m6A), 5-methylcytosine (m5C), and N1-methyladenosine (m1A) are newly discovered epigenetic mechanisms involved in the development of SS. This study aimed to investigate the effects of m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A modifications on the immune microenvironment of SS. Three microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Omnibus Expression (GEO) database, including 56 SS samples and 35 normal samples. Then, genes with m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A methylation were explored, and the RNA modification patterns mediated by 59 m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A regulators were summarized. The effects of m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A modifications on immune infiltrating cells were discussed. Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 subunit D(EIF3D) was closely related to monocytes, and the expression of EIF3D was higher in SS with less monocytes. Two distinct patterns of RNA modification mediated by the 59 m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A regulators were also identified, which infiltrated immune cells differently. Moreover, the two distinct RNA patterns were enriched in different signaling pathways, and their biological functions were explored. The findings revealed that m7G, m6A, m5C, and m1A modifications played vital roles in the diversity and complexity of the immune microenvironment in SS.
Keywords: Epigenetics; Immune microenvironment; Methylation; Sjögren's syndrome.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.