New potential protective effects of RNA modification on non-alcoholic fatty liver

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a general term that includes a series of liver diseases that affect those who rarely or do not drink alcohol

The results of the study were published in the journal Nature Metabolism

The researchers wrote: "Men and women show significant differences in the prevalence of metabolic characteristics including hepatic steatosis, which is a key driver of cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality

"RNA methylation is a widespread regulatory mechanism of transcription conversion

Their results show that m6A is necessary for precise control of lipogenic enzyme activity and "provides a molecular basis for the existence of gender differences in liver lipid traits

The study in mice also showed that this change may occur at a different rate in female mice than in male mice, which may explain the higher fat content in the liver of female mice

Researchers have also found in preclinical models that gene therapy can be used to enhance or increase the modification of key RNAs to slow or reduce the severity of liver disease

The researchers hope that their findings will guide future research to develop enhanced chemical modification therapies as a way to prevent liver disease and similar diseases

Transcriptional regulation of N6-methyladenosine orchestrates sex-dimorphic metabolic traits.