Nat Metabol: RNA modification can help the body fight liver disease

Men and women show striking differences in the prevalence of metabolic characteristics, including liver steatosis, which is a key driver of cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality
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RNA methylation is a broad regulation mechanism of transcription conversion

The biogenesis of mRNA is the key target of many regulatory pathways in the liver, and its destruction can lead to metabolic disorders including fatty liver
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Recent evidence suggests that selective m6A methylation can affect mRNA stability, translation, and/or localization

RNA methylation strongly enriches adipogenic transcripts and is regulated by dietary dynamics
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This research was conducted on mice
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The researchers pointed out that there are significant differences in the effects of m6A between male and female mice, and that m6A has a strong influence on the interaction between gender and diet composition

When fatty liver occurs, due to diet or wear factors, the fat content in the liver increases, which may lead to liver scarring and disease progression
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For example, it has been observed in cirrhosis and other serious liver diseases that higher liver fat content is often directly related to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Although the effect of liver RNA modification in the long-term feeding process that simulates fatty liver is not well defined, researchers predict based on these findings that women may have a health advantage in chronic liver disease models
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Although the basal hepatic triglycerides were higher at the beginning, the data showed that female mice can take advantage of the protective effect of m6A when faced with dietary challenges, and this unique lipid degradation pathway is found in male mice.

A key question that researchers need to solve in the future is how genetic and environmental factors affect the body's natural ability to produce RNA modifications, because m6A seems to act as a protective checkpoint to reduce the accumulation of fat in the liver
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Therefore, the researchers hope that the results of this study can help them develop new treatments and strengthen chemical modifications in the later stage to protect the body from liver and other similar diseases

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