Nature Metabolism: RNA modification can prevent liver disease

Studies conducted in mice also indicate that this modification, called the m6A methyl-height RNA strand, may be at a different rate in females than in males, which may explain why women tend to have higher fat content in the liver

In addition, in preclinical models, researchers have confirmed that gene therapy can be used to enhance or increase the modification of key RNAs to slow or reduce the severity of liver disease

Fatty liver occurs when the fat content of the liver increases due to diet or genetic factors, which may lead to advanced liver scarring and diseases, such as cirrhosis and other diseases

In recent years, scientists have discovered hundreds of chemical modifications similar to m6A.

Using a unique mouse model lacking the m6A RNA modification in the liver and a control model containing the modification, the authors compared the effects of diets with different fat content to evaluate the effect of the modification on fatty liver

A key issue for continued research is how genetic and environmental factors affect the body's natural ability to produce RNA modifications

Journal Reference :

1. David A.