N⁶-Methyladenosine in Vascular Aging and Related Diseases: Clinical Perspectives

Aging leads to progressive deterioration of the structure and function of arteries, which eventually contributes to the development of vascular aging-related diseases. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is the most prevalent modification in eukaryotic RNAs. This reversible m⁶A RNA modification is dynamically regulated by writers, erasers, and readers, playing a critical role in various physiological and pathological conditions by affecting almost all stages of the RNA life cycle. Recent studies have highlighted the involvement of m⁶A in vascular aging and related diseases, shedding light on its potential clinical significance. In this paper, we comprehensively discuss the current understanding of m⁶A in vascular aging and its clinical implications. We discuss the molecular insights into m⁶A and its association with clinical realities, emphasizing its significance in unraveling the mechanisms underlying vascular aging. Furthermore, we explore the possibility of m⁶A and its regulators as clinical indicators for early diagnosis and prognosis prediction and investigate the therapeutic potential of m⁶A-associated anti-aging approaches. We also examine the challenges and future directions in this field and highlight the necessity of integrating m⁶A knowledge into patient-centered care. Finally, we emphasize the need for multidisciplinary collaboration to advance the field of m⁶A research and its clinical application.