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Updated: Jun 20, 2025

A Doxorubicin-induced Cardiomyopathy Model in Adult Zebrafish
Published on: June 7, 2018
Role of M6a Methylation in Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity
Yanfang Liu1,2,3,4, Hui Wu5,6,7,8, Gang Zhou1,2,3,4
1Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, China Three Gorges University, Hubei, China.
Insights
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is a key regulator in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) and Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Targeting m6A offers a novel therapeutic strategy for these cardiovascular conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction and drug-induced cardiotoxicity, are leading global causes of death.
- Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) complicates acute myocardial infarction treatment, with no current effective therapies.
- Doxorubicin (DOX) cardiotoxicity limits its use in cancer treatment, and its mechanisms remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI).
- To investigate the potential of m6A as a biomarker and therapeutic target for MI/RI and Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC).
Main Methods:
- Reviewing existing literature on m6A methylation in cardiovascular pathophysiology.
- Analyzing the regulatory mechanisms of m6A in cellular processes like autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation relevant to MI/RI and DIC.
Main Results:
- Emerging evidence indicates m6A methylation critically regulates MI/RI and DIC.
- m6A may mediate pathological processes in MI/RI and DIC by influencing autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
Conclusions:
- m6A methylation represents a significant regulatory mechanism in MI/RI and DIC.
- Targeting m6A pathways presents a promising new avenue for therapeutic interventions in MI/RI and DIC.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, with acute myocardial infarction and anticancer drug-induced cardiotoxicity being the significant factors. The most effective treatment for acute myocardial infarction is rapid restoration of coronary blood flow by thrombolytic therapy or percutaneous coronary intervention. However, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MI/RI) after reperfusion therapy is common in acute myocardial infarction, thus affecting the prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction. There is no effective treatment for MI/RI. Anthracyclines such as Doxorubicin (DOX) have limited clinical use due to their cardiotoxicity, and the mechanism of DOX-induced cardiac injury is complex and not yet fully understood. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays a crucial role in many biological processes. Emerging evidence suggests that m6A methylation plays a critical regulatory role in MI/RI and DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC), suggesting that m6A may serve as a novel biomarker and therapeutic target for MI/RI and DIC. M6A methylation may mediate the pathophysiological processes of MI/RI and DIC by regulating cellular autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. In this paper, we first focus on the relationship between m6A methylation and MI/RI, then further elucidate that m6A methylation may mediate the pathophysiological process of MI/RI through the regulation of cellular autophagy, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response. Finally, briefly outline the roles played by m6A in DIC, which will provide a new methodology and direction for the research and treatment of MI/RI and DIC.

