RNA modifications in intestinal macrophages: Implications for gut immunity and inflammation

Intestinal macrophages are critical regulators of mucosal immunity, playing essential roles in microbial surveillance, barrier maintenance, and tissue repair. As highly responsive immune cells, they integrate diverse environmental cues to dynamically adapt to their functional states. In recent years, RNA modifications have emerged as a key layer of post-transcriptional regulation, orchestrating macrophage development, polarization, and immunometabolic programming. This review focuses on the role of epitranscriptomic regulation in shaping the plasticity of intestinal macrophages, systematically summarizing how RNA modifications influence their responses to inflammatory stimuli, microbial signals, and intercellular communication. We further highlight the regulatory potential of RNA modifications in gut immune homeostasis and inflammatory diseases, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding RNA-mediated immune regulation and a forward-looking perspective on targeting these pathways in intestinal disorders.