Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 28, 2026
Lipidomics and Transcriptomics in Neurological Diseases
Published on: March 18, 2022
Integrative Analysis of m6A Methylation and Transcriptomic Profiles in Cortical Tissues of Mice with
Juan Zhao1, Tengfei Zhu2,3, Chao Zhao2
1Maternal and Child Healthcare Medical Research Institute, Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common and severe complication in septic patients, characterized by the increased mortality and cognition dysfunction. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), one of the most prevalent RNA modifications, plays crucial roles in the central nervous system by regulating RNA metabolism. However, its involvement in the pathogenesis of SAE remains unexplored.
Methods:
RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and methylated RNA immunoprecipitation (MeRIP)-sequencing were performed to analyze the transcriptomic profiles and m6A methylation in the brain cortex of LPS-induced septic mice. Bioinformatics analysis was carried out to identify genes with altered m6A methylation and differential expression. Target genes and m6A regulators were further validated using quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
Results:
Numerous genes exhibited differential expression and m6A modification in the cortical tissues of septic mice. Gene function enrichment analysis revealed that genes with differential expression were enriched in pathways related to immune and inflammatory responses as well as neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, and genes with differential m6A modification showed significant associations with pathways related to neurodegeneration, synapse function and metabolism. Comprehensive analysis of genes with both altered m6A methylation and transcription identified several key genes highly associated with inflammatory processes. Validation experiments confirmed significant dysregulation of mRNA levels for several target genes (Ahsg, Alb, Apoa1, Serpina1b, Serpinf2, and Serpina3K) and m6A regulators (Mettl3, Mettl16, Igfbp1 and Igfbp3) in the cortex of septic mice.
Conclusion:
This study provided a transcriptome-wide analysis of m6A methylation in the cortical tissues of septic mice, suggesting that m6A-mediated regulation of inflammatory gene expression is associated with the pathogenesis of SAE. The findings presented valuable insights into the mechanisms of sepsis-associated brain injury and potential therapeutic targets.
