2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (20): 3250-3255

N6-methyladenosine methylation and its regulation in metabolic diseases

Chen Ziyang1, Pu Rui1, Deng Shuang2, Liu Min2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation has gradually become a research hotspot and new direction in life science and sports medicine. Many studies have confirmed that m6A methylation is closely related to various diseases and plays a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases, but its mechanism has not been clarified.  
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between m6A methylation and various metabolic diseases, to review the latest research progress of m6A and related enzymes in the regulation of metabolic diseases, and to provide a detailed overview of the specific molecular mechanism, in order to provide a new direction for the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases.  
METHODS: The latest domestic and foreign research results related to m6A methylation and the occurrence and development of various metabolic diseases were searched in PubMed and CNKI with the search terms of “m6A, obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoporosis” in English and Chinese, respectively. Finally, according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 51 literatures were finally included and summarized.  
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: M6A methylation is widely involved in the occurrence and development of various metabolic diseases through a variety of signaling pathways. The dynamic regulation of m6A on RNA regulates the processes of adipogenesis, glucose and lipid metabolism, islet β cell function, insulin resistance, blood glucose homeostasis and bone formation through related enzymes.   In turn, it plays a key role in obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and osteoporosis. M6A methylase fat mass and obesity-associated protein and related enzymes are closely related to the occurrence and development of various metabolic diseases, and can be used as biomarkers for their diagnosis.   In addition, m6A methylation may be an effective indicator of lipid metabolism, lipid differentiation and other processes, and provide more options for relevant diagnosis.
Key words: N6-methyladenosine methylation, obesity, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoporosis, regulation