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Barone S, Cerchia C, Summa V, Brindisi M. Methyl-Transferase-Like Protein 16 (METTL16): The Intriguing Journey of a Key Epitranscriptomic Player Becoming an Emerging Biological Target. J Med Chem 2024. [PMID: 39150226 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c01247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Key epitranscriptomic players have been increasingly characterized for their structural features and their involvement in several diseases. Accordingly, the design and synthesis of novel epitranscriptomic modulators have started opening a glimmer for drug discovery. m6A is a reversible modification occurring on a specific site and is catalyzed by three sets of proteins responsible for opposite functions. Writers (e.g., methyl-transferase-like protein (METTL) 3/METTL14 complex and METTL16) introduce the methyl group on adenosine N-6, by transferring the methyl group from the methyl donor S-adenosyl-methionine (SAM) to the substrate. Despite the rapidly advancing drug discovery progress on METTL3/METTL14, the METTL16 m6A writer has been marginally explored so far. We herein provide the first comprehensive overview of structural and biological features of METTL16, highlighting the state of the art in the field of its biological and structural characterization. We also showcase initial efforts in the identification of structural templates and preliminary structure-activity relationships for METTL16 modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Barone
- Department of Pharmacy (DoE 2023-2027), University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Carmen Cerchia
- Department of Pharmacy (DoE 2023-2027), University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Summa
- Department of Pharmacy (DoE 2023-2027), University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Margherita Brindisi
- Department of Pharmacy (DoE 2023-2027), University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Chen H, Xing H, Zhong C, Lin X, Chen R, Luo N, Chen L, Huang Y. METTL3 confers protection against mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment in an Alzheimer disease mouse model by upregulating Mfn2 via N6-methyladenosine modification. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2024; 83:606-614. [PMID: 38408379 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlae010] [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] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Mitofusin 2 (MFN2) has been found to be downregulated in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) but little is known about its roles in the pathogenesis of AD. We explored the mechanism of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation of Mfn2 in hippocampal mitochondrial dysfunction in an AD mouse model. APP/PS1 transgenic mice underwent stereotaxic injection of adeno-associated viruses and their behaviors were assessed. METTL3 and MFN2 expressions were measured by qRT-PCR and Western blot, accompanied by assessment of mitochondrial morphology, ATP, mitochondrial membrane potential, and amyloid-β content. Binding between METTL3 and MFN2, the total amount of m6A, and the m6A modification of Mfn2 were also determined. METTL3 and MFN2 were downregulated in hippocampal tissues of the AD model mice; METTL3 enhanced MFN2 expression via m6A modification. Overexpression of METTL3 or MFN2 ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction indicated by fewer damaged mitochondria, increased ATP and JC-1 levels, and reduced Aβ content; improved cognitive impairment in the mice was indicated by the novel object discrimination index and Morris water maze tests. Effects of METTL3 overexpression were abrogated by further knockdown of MFN2. Thus, METTL3 ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction and cognitive impairment in the AD model mice by increasing MFN2 expression via m6A modification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Huaijie Xing
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Changhui Zhong
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Xuejuan Lin
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Ruipeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Ning Luo
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Lijun Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
| | - Yusheng Huang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan, P.R. China
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Xie L, Zhang X, Xie J, Xu Y, Li XJ, Lin L. Emerging Roles for DNA 6mA and RNA m6A Methylation in Mammalian Genome. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13897. [PMID: 37762200 PMCID: PMC10531503 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241813897] [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: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic methylation has been shown to play an important role in transcriptional regulation and disease pathogenesis. Recent advancements in detection techniques have identified DNA N6-methyldeoxyadenosine (6mA) and RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) as methylation modifications at the sixth position of adenine in DNA and RNA, respectively. While the distributions and functions of 6mA and m6A have been extensively studied in prokaryotes, their roles in the mammalian brain, where they are enriched, are still not fully understood. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the current research progress on 6mA and m6A, as well as their associated writers, erasers, and readers at both DNA and RNA levels. Specifically, we focus on the potential roles of 6mA and m6A in the fundamental biological pathways of the mammalian genome and highlight the significant regulatory functions of 6mA in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Li Lin
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (L.X.); (X.Z.); (J.X.); (Y.X.); (X.-J.L.)
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4
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Ma Y, Fan C, Wang Y, Li W, Jiang H, Yang W. Comprehensive analysis of mRNAs in the cerebral cortex in APP/PS1 double-transgenic mice with Alzheimer's disease based on high-throughput sequencing of N4-acetylcytidine. Funct Integr Genomics 2023; 23:267. [PMID: 37548859 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-023-01192-z] [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: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), a significant modified nucleoside, participates in the development of many diseases. Messenger RNAs (mRNAs) contain most of the information of the genome and are the molecules that transmit information from genes to proteins. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which fibrillar amyloid plaques are present. However, it remains unknown how mRNA ac4C modification affects the development of AD. In the current study, ac4C-modified mRNAs were comprehensively analyzed in AD mice by ac4C-RIP-seq and RNA-seq. Next, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to examine the relationships between the genes with differential ac4C modification levels and their RNA expression levels. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) acquired above were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis to further analyze the molecular mechanisms in AD. In total, 3312 significant ac4C peaks were found on 2512 mRNAs, 1241 of which were hyperacetylated and 1271 of which were hypoacetylated. In addition, 956 mRNAs with differential expression were found, including 520 upregulated mRNAs and 436 downregulated mRNAs. Overall, 134 mRNAs with simultaneous changes at the ac4C levels as well as RNA expression levels were identified via joint analysis. Then, through PPI network construction and functional enrichment analysis, 37 key mRNAs were screened, which were predominantly enriched in GABAergic synapses and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The significant difference in the abundance of mRNA ac4C modification indicates that this modification is associated with AD progression, which may provide insight for more investigations of the potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanzhen Ma
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Fan
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Yongzhong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China
| | - Weizu Li
- Department of Pharmacology, Basic Medicine College, Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunopharmacology, Ministry of Education, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Experimental Center of Clinical Research, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China.
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Wenming Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China.
- Encephalopathy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Anhui, China.
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5
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Qu M, Zuo L, Zhang M, Cheng P, Guo Z, Yang J, Li C, Wu J. High glucose induces tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampal neurons via inhibition of ALKBH5-mediated Dgkh m 6A demethylation: a potential mechanism for diabetic cognitive dysfunction. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:385. [PMID: 37385994 PMCID: PMC10310746 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05909-7] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Tau hyperphosphorylation in hippocampal neurons has an important pathogenetic role in the development of diabetic cognitive dysfunction. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is the most common modification of eukaryotic mRNA and is involved in regulating diverse biological processes. However, the role of m6A alteration in tau hyperphosphorylation of hippocampus neurons has not been reported. We found lower ALKBH5 expression in the hippocampus of diabetic rats and in HN-h cells with high-glucose intervention, accompanied by tau hyperphosphorylation. ALKBH5 overexpression significantly reversed tau hyperphosphorylation in high-glucose-stimulated HN-h cells. Furthermore, we found and confirmed by m6A-mRNA epitope transcriptome microarray and transcriptome RNA sequencing coupled with methylated RNA immunoprecipitation that ALKBH5 regulates the m6A modification of Dgkh mRNA. High glucose inhibited the demethylation modification of Dgkh by ALKBH5, resulting in decreases in Dgkh mRNA and protein levels. Overexpression of Dgkh reversed tau hyperphosphorylation in HN-h cells after high-glucose stimulation. Overexpression of Dgkh by adenovirus suspension injection into the bilateral hippocampus of diabetic rats significantly ameliorated tau hyperphosphorylation and diabetic cognitive dysfunction. In addition, ALKBH5 targeted Dgkh to activate PKC-α, leading to tau hyperphosphorylation under high-glucose conditions. The results of this study reveal that high glucose suppresses the demethylation modification of Dgkh by ALKBH5, which downregulates Dgkh and leads to tau hyperphosphorylation through activation of PKC-α in hippocampal neurons. These findings may indicate a new mechanism and a novel therapeutic target for diabetic cognitive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minli Qu
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Linhui Zuo
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Mengru Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Peng Cheng
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Junya Yang
- School of Health and Related Research, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Changjun Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Endocrinology Research Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Wu
- Department of Endocrinology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Hunan Engineering Research Center for Obesity and its Metabolic Complications, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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6
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Yang L, Pang X, Guo W, Zhu C, Yu L, Song X, Wang K, Pang C. An Exploration of the Coherent Effects between METTL3 and NDUFA10 on Alzheimer's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10111. [PMID: 37373264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241210111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized primarily by a decline in cognitive function. However, the etiopathogenesis of AD is unclear. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is abundant in the brain, and it is interesting to explore the relationship between m6A and AD causes. In this paper, the gene expression of METTL3 and NDUFA10 were found to correlate with the Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE), which is a clinical indicator of the degree of dementia. METTL3 is involved in post-transcriptional methylation and the formation of m6A. NDUFA10 encodes the protein with NADH dehydrogenase activity and oxidoreductase activity in the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The following three characteristics were observed in this paper: 1. The lower the expression level of NDUFA10, the smaller the MMSE, and the higher the degree of dementia. 2. If the expression level of METTL3 dropped below its threshold, the patient would have a risk of AD with a probability close to 100%, suggesting a basic necessity for m6A to protect mRNA. 3. The lower the expression levels of both METTL3 and NDUFA10, the more likely the patient would suffer from AD, implying the coherence between METTL3 and NDUFA10. Regarding the above discovery, the following hypothesis is presented: METTL3 expression level is downregulated, then the m6A modification level of NDUFA10 mRNA is also decreased, thereby reducing the expression level of NDUFA10-encoded protein. Furthermore, the abnormal expression of NDUFA10 contributes to the assembly disorder of mitochondrial complex I and affects the process of the electron respiratory chain, with the consequent development of AD. In addition, to confirm the above conclusions, the AI Ant Colony Algorithm was improved to be more suitable for discovering the characteristics of AD data, and the SVM diagnostic model was applied to mine the coherent effects on AD between METTL3 and NDUFA10. In conclusion, our findings suggest that dysregulated m6A leads to altered expression of its target genes, thereby affecting AD's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Yang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Xinping Pang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Wenbo Guo
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Chengjiang Zhu
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Lei Yu
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Xianghu Song
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
| | - Kui Wang
- West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chaoyang Pang
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610101, China
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7
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Lv J, Xing L, Zhong X, Li K, Liu M, Du K. Role of N6-methyladenosine modification in central nervous system diseases and related therapeutic agents. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 162:114583. [PMID: 36989722 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is a ubiquitous mRNA modification in eukaryotes. m6A occurs through the action of methyltransferases, demethylases, and methylation-binding proteins. m6A methylation of RNA is associated with various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), depression, cerebral apoplexy, brain injury, epilepsy, cerebral arteriovenous malformations, and glioma. Furthermore, recent studies report that m6A-related drugs have attracted considerable concerns in the therapeutic areas of neurological disorders. Here, we mainly summarized the role of m6A modification in neurological diseases and the therapeutic potential of m6A-related drugs. The aim of this review is expected to be useful to systematically assess m6A as a new potential biomarker and develop innovative modulators of m6A for the amelioration and treatment of neurological disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junya Lv
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Lijuan Xing
- Precision Laboratory of Panjin Central Hospital, Panjin 124000, China
| | - Xin Zhong
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Kai Li
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China.
| | - Mingyan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; Liaoning Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shenyang 110179, China.
| | - Ke Du
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China; Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110001, China; Liaoning Medical Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Shenyang 110179, China.
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8
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Xia L, Zhang F, Li Y, Mo Y, Zhang L, Li Q, Luo M, Hou X, Du Z, Deng J, Hao E. A new perspective on Alzheimer's disease: m6A modification. Front Genet 2023; 14:1166831. [PMID: 37255714 PMCID: PMC10225986 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1166831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
As a neurodegenerative disease, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by synaptic loss, extracellular plaques of amyloid accumulation, hyperphosphorylation of tau, and neuroinflammation. Various biological processes are affected by epitranscriptomic modifications, which regulate the metabolism of mRNA in cells and regulate the expression of genes. In response to changes in m6A modification levels, the nervous system becomes dysfunctional and plays a significant role in the development of Alzheimer's disease. As a result of recent research, this paper reviews advances in the understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification in the occurrence and development of AD. In addition, the article discusses recent research techniques related to animal models of m6A and AD. Furthermore, it discusses the possibility of studying the pathogenesis of AD at the level of the epitranscriptome, identifying early diagnostic markers, and screening for effective treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xia
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
- Guangxi International Zhang Medicine Hospital Affiliated to Gungxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of TCM Formulas Theory and Transformation for Damp Diseases, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Yulu Li
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Yuemi Mo
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Lingqiu Zhang
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Qianhua Li
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Minghuang Luo
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
| | - Xiaotao Hou
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of TCM Formulas Theory and Transformation for Damp Diseases, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Zhengcai Du
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of TCM Formulas Theory and Transformation for Damp Diseases, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Jiagang Deng
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of TCM Formulas Theory and Transformation for Damp Diseases, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
| | - Erwei Hao
- Guangxi Scientific Experimental Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Efficacy Study on Chinese Materia Medica, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Study on Functional Ingredients of Agricultural Residues, Nanning, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of TCM Formulas Theory and Transformation for Damp Diseases, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, China
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9
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Conserved reduction of m 6A RNA modifications during aging and neurodegeneration is linked to changes in synaptic transcripts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2204933120. [PMID: 36812208 PMCID: PMC9992849 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2204933120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulates mRNA metabolism. While it has been implicated in the development of the mammalian brain and in cognition, the role of m6A in synaptic plasticity, especially during cognitive decline, is not fully understood. In this study, we employed methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing to obtain the m6A epitranscriptome of the hippocampal subregions CA1, CA3, and the dentate gyrus and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in young and aged mice. We observed a decrease in m6A levels in aged animals. Comparative analysis of cingulate cortex (CC) brain tissue from cognitively intact human subjects and Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients showed decreased m6A RNA methylation in AD patients. m6A changes common to brains of aged mice and AD patients were found in transcripts linked to synaptic function including calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 (CAMKII) and AMPA-selective glutamate receptor 1 (Glua1). We used proximity ligation assays to show that reduced m6A levels result in decreased synaptic protein synthesis as exemplified by CAMKII and GLUA1. Moreover, reduced m6A levels impaired synaptic function. Our results suggest that m6A RNA methylation controls synaptic protein synthesis and may play a role in cognitive decline associated with aging and AD.
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Qiu Z, Bai X, Han X, Wang P, Wang X, Lv Y, An Y. Clinical and biological significance of RNA N6-methyladenosine regulators in Alzheimer disease. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e32945. [PMID: 36800593 PMCID: PMC9936051 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000032945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulators are essential for a variety of biological functions, such as early development, viral infections, and cancer. However, their roles in Alzheimer disease (AD) are still not very clear. Here, 16 significant m6A regulators were identified using difference analysis between AD patients and non-demented controls based on the GSE132903 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Using these 16 m6A regulators, a nomogram model was established to predict the prevalence of AD. We found that patients could obtain a good clinical benefit based on this model. In addition, we revealed 2 distinct m6A patterns and 2 distinct m6A gene patterns in AD and demonstrated their prognostic and risk assessment significance. This present work comprehensively evaluated the functions of m6A regulators in the diagnosis and subtype classification of AD. These results suggested they have potential prognostic and risk assessment significance in AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang Qiu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanyang Bai
- School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Xinye Han
- Department of Research and Development, Beijing Yihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Peishen Wang
- Department of Research and Development, Beijing Yihua Biotechnology Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxia Lv
- Medical Supply Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- * Correspondence: Yuxia Lv, Medical Supply Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100093, China (e-mail: )
| | - Yihua An
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanbo Brain Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Iannitelli AF, Kelberman MA, Lustberg DJ, Korukonda A, McCann KE, Mulvey B, Segal A, Liles LC, Sloan SA, Dougherty JD, Weinshenker D. The Neurotoxin DSP-4 Dysregulates the Locus Coeruleus-Norepinephrine System and Recapitulates Molecular and Behavioral Aspects of Prodromal Neurodegenerative Disease. eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0483-22.2022. [PMID: 36635251 PMCID: PMC9829100 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0483-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) is among the earliest sites of tau and α-synuclein pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), respectively. The onset of these pathologies coincides with loss of noradrenergic fibers in LC target regions and the emergence of prodromal symptoms including sleep disturbances and anxiety. Paradoxically, these prodromal symptoms are indicative of a noradrenergic hyperactivity phenotype, rather than the predicted loss of norepinephrine (NE) transmission following LC damage, suggesting the engagement of complex compensatory mechanisms. Because current therapeutic efforts are targeting early disease, interest in the LC has grown, and it is critical to identify the links between pathology and dysfunction. We employed the LC-specific neurotoxin N-(2-chloroethyl)-N-ethyl-2-bromobenzylamine (DSP-4), which preferentially damages LC axons, to model early changes in the LC-NE system pertinent to AD and PD in male and female mice. DSP-4 (two doses of 50 mg/kg, one week apart) induced LC axon degeneration, triggered neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, and reduced tissue NE levels. There was no LC cell death or changes to LC firing, but transcriptomics revealed reduced expression of genes that define noradrenergic identity and other changes relevant to neurodegenerative disease. Despite the dramatic loss of LC fibers, NE turnover and signaling were elevated in terminal regions and were associated with anxiogenic phenotypes in multiple behavioral tests. These results represent a comprehensive analysis of how the LC-NE system responds to axon/terminal damage reminiscent of early AD and PD at the molecular, cellular, systems, and behavioral levels, and provides potential mechanisms underlying prodromal neuropsychiatric symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa F Iannitelli
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Michael A Kelberman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Daniel J Lustberg
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Anu Korukonda
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Katharine E McCann
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Bernard Mulvey
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Arielle Segal
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - L Cameron Liles
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Steven A Sloan
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Joseph D Dougherty
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - David Weinshenker
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322
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12
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You S, Su X, Ying J, Li S, Qu Y, Mu D. Research Progress on the Role of RNA m6A Modification in Glial Cells in the Regulation of Neurological Diseases. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081158. [PMID: 36009052 PMCID: PMC9405963 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cells are the most abundant and widely distributed cells that maintain cerebral homeostasis in the central nervous system. They mainly include microglia, astrocytes, and the oligodendrocyte lineage cells. Moreover, glial cells may induce pathological changes, such as inflammatory responses, demyelination, and disruption of the blood–brain barrier, to regulate the occurrence and development of neurological diseases through various molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, RNA m6A modifications are involved in various pathological processes associated with glial cells. In this review, the roles of glial cells in physiological and pathological states, as well as advances in understanding the mechanisms by which glial cells regulate neurological diseases under RNA m6A modification, are summarized, hoping to provide new perspectives on the deeper mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyi You
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaojuan Su
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Junjie Ying
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shiping Li
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Qu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dezhi Mu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Chronobiology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence:
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13
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The Potential Role of m6A in the Regulation of TBI-Induced BGA Dysfunction. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081521. [PMID: 36009239 PMCID: PMC9405408 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The brain–gut axis (BGA) is an important bidirectional communication pathway for the development, progress and interaction of many diseases between the brain and gut, but the mechanisms remain unclear, especially the post-transcriptional regulation of BGA after traumatic brain injury (TBI). RNA methylation is one of the most important modifications in post-transcriptional regulation. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), as the most abundant post-transcriptional modification of mRNA in eukaryotes, has recently been identified and characterized in both the brain and gut. The purpose of this review is to describe the pathophysiological changes in BGA after TBI, and then investigate the post-transcriptional bidirectional regulation mechanisms of TBI-induced BGA dysfunction. Here, we mainly focus on the characteristics of m6A RNA methylation in the post-TBI BGA, highlight the possible regulatory mechanisms of m6A modification in TBI-induced BGA dysfunction, and finally discuss the outcome of considering m6A as a therapeutic target to improve the recovery of the brain and gut dysfunction caused by TBI.
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14
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Shi X, Cao Y, Zhang X, Gu C, Liang F, Xue J, Ni HW, Wang Z, Li Y, Wang X, Cai Z, Hocher B, Shen LH, He B. Comprehensive Analysis of N6-Methyladenosine RNA Methylation Regulators Expression Identify Distinct Molecular Subtypes of Myocardial Infarction. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:756483. [PMID: 34778266 PMCID: PMC8578940 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.756483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading threats to human health. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification, as a pivotal regulator of messenger RNA stability, protein expression, and cellular processes, exhibits important roles in the development of cardiac remodeling and cardiomyocyte contractile function. Methods: The expression levels of m6A regulators were analyzed using the GSE5406 database. We analyzed genome-wide association study data and single-cell sequencing data to confirm the functional importance of m6A regulators in MI. Three molecular subtypes with different clinical characteristics were established to tailor treatment strategies for patients with MI. We applied pathway analysis and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis to study the changes in gene expression and identified four common DEGs. Furthermore, we constructed the protein–protein interaction network and confirmed several hub genes in three clusters of MI. To lucubrate the potential functions, we performed a ClueGO analysis of these hub networks. Results: In this study, we identified that the levels of FTO, YTHDF3, ZC3H13, and WTAP were dramatically differently expressed in MI tissues compared with controls. Bioinformatics analysis showed that DEGs in MI were significantly related to modulating calcium signaling and chemokine signaling, and m6A regulators were related to regulating glucose measurement and elevated blood glucose levels. Furthermore, genome-wide association study data analysis showed that WTAP single-nucleotide polymorphism was significantly related to the progression of MI. In addition, single-cell sequencing found that WTAP is widely expressed in the heart tissues. Moreover, we conducted consensus clustering for MI in view of the dysregulated m6A regulators’ expression in MI. According to the expression levels, we found MI patients could be clustered into three subtypes. Pathway analysis showed the DEGs among different clusters in MI were assigned to HIF-1, IL-17, MAPK, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways, etc. The module analysis detected several genes, including BAG2, BAG3, MMP2, etc. We also found that MI-related network was significantly related to positive and negative regulation of angiogenesis and response to heat. The hub networks in MI clusters were significantly related to antigen processing and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, RNA splicing, and stability, indicating that these processes may contribute to the development of MI. Conclusion: Collectively, our study could provide more information for understanding the roles of m6A in MI, which may provide a novel insight into identifying biomarkers for MI treatment and diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Shi
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yaochen Cao
- Department of Nephrology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Xiaobin Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Gu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Liang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jieyuan Xue
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Han-Wen Ni
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zi Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaohua Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Berthold Hocher
- 5th Department of Medicine (Nephrology, Hypertensiology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology), University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Ling-Hong Shen
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ben He
- Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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15
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Deng Y, Zhu H, Xiao L, Liu C, Liu YL, Gao W. Identification of the function and mechanism of m6A reader IGF2BP2 in Alzheimer's disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:24086-24100. [PMID: 34705667 PMCID: PMC8610118 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia in the elderly, is a kind of neurodegenerative disease. However, its pathogenesis and diagnosis remain unclear. M6A is related to nervous system development and neurodegenerative diseases. Here in this study, using multiple RNA-seq datasets of Alzheimer’s brain tissues, along with bioinformatic analysis, we innovatively found that m6A reader protein IGF2BP2 was abnormally highly expressed in Alzheimer’s patients. After compared between Alzheimer’s and normal brain samples, and between IGF2BP2- high and IGF2BP2- low subgroups of Alzheimer’s patients, we took the shared differentially expressed genes as the relevant gene sets of IGF2PB2 affecting Alzheimer’s disease occurrence for subsequent analysis. Then, weight gene correlation analysis was conducted and 17 functional modules were identified. The module that most positively correlated with Alzheimer’s disease and IGF2PB2-high subgroups were mainly participated in ECM receptor interaction, focal adhesion, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. Afterwards, a hub gene-based model including 20 genes was constructed by LASSO regression and validated by ROC curve for Alzheimer diagnosis. Finally, we preliminarily elucidated that IGF2BP2 could bind with mRNAs in a m6A-dependent manner. This study first elucidates the pathogenic role of IGF2BP2 in Alzheimer’s disease. IGF2BP2 and its relevant m6A modifications are potential to be new diagnostic and therapeutic targets for Alzheimer’s patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyao Deng
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Hongwei Zhu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Le Xiao
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Neurology, The First Hospital of Changsha, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Ya-Lin Liu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China.,Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Wenzhe Gao
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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