Potential link between m⁶A modification and systemic lupus erythematosus

The field of m⁶A modification and epitranscriptomics has recently attracted much attention. More methods allowing for precise m⁶A site profiling and location are developed and crucial players of m⁶A modification machinery are increasingly identified. Although some challenges remain, m⁶A modification is found to modulate almost all aspects of RNA metabolism, such as splicing, stability, structure, translation, and export. Thus, m⁶A modification adds a new layer of post-transcriptional gene expression regulation, and it is implicated in T cell response to HIV infection, type I interferon production, and T cell differentiation and homeostasis. Moreover, evidence supporting its involvement in various human diseases including cancers is accumulating. Given the role of m⁶A modification in gene expression regulation and immune response, it invites the speculation that m⁶A modification may justify the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and take part in the initiation and progression of SLE. In this review, we introduce the widespread existence of m⁶A modification and briefly discuss components of m⁶A modification machinery in mammals. We mainly summarize the studies reporting the mechanisms of m⁶A modification in gene expression regulation through modulating pre-mRNA splicing, mRNA stability, RNA structure, translation, and pri-miRNA processing. Biological functions related to immune response of m⁶A modification and the implication of m⁶A modification in cancers are highlighted. In the end, we surmise the potential link between m⁶A modification and SLE.