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Khan FA, Nsengimana B, Awan UA, Ji XY, Ji S, Dong J. Regulatory roles of N6-methyladenosine (m 6A) methylation in RNA processing and non-communicable diseases. Cancer Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41417-024-00789-1. [PMID: 38839892 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00789-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Post-transcriptional RNA modification is an emerging epigenetic control mechanism in cells that is important in many different cellular and organismal processes. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most prevalent, prolific, and ubiquitous internal transcriptional alterations in eukaryotic mRNAs, making it an important topic in the field of Epigenetics. m6A methylation acts as a dynamical regulatory process that regulates the activity of genes and participates in multiple physiological processes, by supporting multiple aspects of essential mRNA metabolic processes, including pre-mRNA splicing, nuclear export, translation, miRNA synthesis, and stability. Extensive research has linked aberrations in m6A modification and m6A-associated proteins to a wide range of human diseases. However, the impact of m6A on mRNA metabolism and its pathological connection between m6A and other non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, liver diseases, and cancer remains in fragmentation. Here, we review the existing understanding of the overall role of mechanisms by which m6A exerts its activities and address new discoveries that highlight m6A's diverse involvement in gene expression regulation. We discuss m6A deposition on mRNA and its consequences on degradation, translation, and transcription, as well as m6A methylation of non-coding chromosomal-associated RNA species. This study could give new information about the molecular process, early detection, tailored treatment, and predictive evaluation of human non-communicable diseases like cancer. We also explore more about new data that suggests targeting m6A regulators in diseases may have therapeutic advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faiz Ali Khan
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Basic Sciences Research, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Bernard Nsengimana
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Usman Ayub Awan
- Division of Epidemiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Xin-Ying Ji
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Subjects, Shu-Qing Medical College of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Shaoping Ji
- Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Subjects, Shu-Qing Medical College of Zhengzhou, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
- Laboratory of Cell Signal Transduction, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China.
| | - Jingcheng Dong
- Department of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Integrative Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Schaub JR, Chen JY, Turner SM. Integrins in biliary injury and fibrosis. Curr Opin Gastroenterol 2024; 40:85-91. [PMID: 38190346 DOI: 10.1097/mog.0000000000000995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Current treatment options for cholangiopathies are severely limited and there is thus a critical need to identify and develop therapies. This review discusses the role of integrins in biliary injury and fibrosis and their potential as therapeutic targets. RECENT FINDINGS There are a diverse set of roles that integrins play in biliary injury and fibrosis. Some integrins activate TGF-β signaling or are involved in sensing of the extracellular matrix, making them attractive targets for biliary fibrosis. In recent work, autoantibodies to α v β 6 were identified in patients with PSC, supporting the relevance of this integrin in the disease. In addition, a role for α 2 β 1 in cyst formation was identified in a mouse model of polycystic liver disease. Leukocyte integrins (e.g. α E β 7 and α 4 β 7 ) contribute to lymphocyte trafficking, making them potential targets for biliary inflammation; however, this has not yet translated to the clinic. SUMMARY While all members of the same family of proteins, integrins have diverse roles in the pathogenesis of biliary disease. Targeting one or multiple of these integrins may slow or halt the progression of biliary injury and fibrosis by simultaneously impacting different pathologic cells and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer Y Chen
- Department of Medicine
- The Liver Center, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Ye W, Lv X, Gao S, Li Y, Luan J, Wang S. Emerging role of m6A modification in fibrotic diseases and its potential therapeutic effect. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 218:115873. [PMID: 37884198 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Fibrosis can occur in a variety of organs such as the heart, lung, liver and kidney, and its pathological changes are mainly manifested by an increase in fibrous connective tissue and a decrease in parenchymal cells in organ tissues, and continuous progression can lead to structural damage and organ hypofunction, or even failure, seriously threatening human health and life. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as one of the most common types of internal modifications of RNA in eukaryotes, exerts a multifunctional role in physiological and pathological processes by regulating the metabolism of RNA. With the in-depth understanding and research of fibrosis, we found that m6A modification plays an important role in fibrosis, and m6A regulators can further participate in the pathophysiological process of fibrosis by regulating the function of specific cells. In our review, we summarized the latest research advances in m6A modification in fibrosis, as well as the specific functions of different m6A regulators. In addition, we focused on the mechanisms and roles of m6A modification in cardiac fibrosis, liver fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, renal fibrosis, retinal fibrosis and oral submucosal fibrosis, with the aim of providing new insights and references for finding potential therapeutic targets for fibrosis. Finally, we discussed the prospects and challenges of targeted m6A modification in the treatment of fibrotic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wufei Ye
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xiongwen Lv
- The Key Laboratory of Anti-inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Songsen Gao
- Department of Orthopedics (Spinal Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Yueran Li
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jiajie Luan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui Province, China.
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Lu Y, Liu Z, Zhang Y, Wu X, Bian W, Shan S, Yang D, Ren T. METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation induces the differentiation of lung resident mesenchymal stem cells into myofibroblasts via the miR-21/PTEN pathway. Respir Res 2023; 24:300. [PMID: 38017523 PMCID: PMC10683095 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02606-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The accumulation of myofibroblasts is the key pathological feature of pulmonary fibrosis (PF). Aberrant differentiation of lung-resident mesenchymal stem cells (LR-MSCs) has been identified as a critical source of myofibroblasts, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. In recent years, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) RNA modification has been implicated in fibrosis development across diverse organs; however, its specific role in promoting the differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts in PF is not well defined. METHODS In this study, we examined the levels of m6A RNA methylation and the expression of its regulatory enzymes in both TGF-β1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. The downstream target genes of m6A and their related pathways were identified according to a literature review, bioinformatic analysis and experimental verification. We also assessed the expression levels of myofibroblast markers in treated LR-MSCs and confirmed the involvement of the above-described pathway in the aberrant differentiation direction of LR-MSCs under TGF-β1 stimulation by overexpressing or knocking down key genes within the pathway. RESULTS Our results revealed that METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation was significantly upregulated in both TGF-β1-treated LR-MSCs and fibrotic mouse lung tissues. This process directly led to the aberrant differentiation of LR-MSCs into myofibroblasts by targeting the miR-21/PTEN pathway. Moreover, inhibition of METTL3 or miR-21 and overexpression of PTEN could rescue this abnormal differentiation. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrated that m6A RNA methylation induced aberrant LR-MSC differentiation into myofibroblasts via the METTL3/miR-21/PTEN signaling pathway. We indicated a novel mechanism to promote PF progression. Targeting METTL3-mediated m6A RNA methylation and its downstream targets may present innovative therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of PF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lu
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Zeyu Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Yunjiao Zhang
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Xiuhua Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Wei Bian
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China
| | - Shan Shan
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
| | - Danrong Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
| | - Tao Ren
- Department of Respiratory and Clinical Care Medicine, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
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Petri BJ, Cave MC, Klinge CM. Changes in m6A in Steatotic Liver Disease. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1653. [PMID: 37628704 PMCID: PMC10454815 DOI: 10.3390/genes14081653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fatty liver disease is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Fatty liver includes non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), now replaced by a consensus group as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). While excess nutrition and obesity are major contributors to fatty liver, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown and therapeutic interventions are limited. Reversible chemical modifications in RNA are newly recognized critical regulators controlling post-transcriptional gene expression. Among these modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant and regulates transcript abundance in fatty liver disease. Modulation of m6A by readers, writers, and erasers (RWE) impacts mRNA processing, translation, nuclear export, localization, and degradation. While many studies focus on m6A RWE expression in human liver pathologies, limitations of technology and bioinformatic methods to detect m6A present challenges in understanding the epitranscriptomic mechanisms driving fatty liver disease progression. In this review, we summarize the RWE of m6A and current methods of detecting m6A in specific genes associated with fatty liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belinda J. Petri
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
| | - Matthew C. Cave
- Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (CIEHS), University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
- Hepatobiology and Toxicology Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA
| | - Carolyn M. Klinge
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
- Center for Integrative Environmental Health Sciences (CIEHS), University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA;
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