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Licensed Unlicensed Requires Authentication Published by De Gruyter May 25, 2022

Research progress on N6-methyladenosine in the human placenta

  • Wenbo Zhou , Pingping Xue , Yuqi Yang , Lin Xia and Bin Yu EMAIL logo

Abstract

Objectives

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is one of the most common epigenetic modifications of eukaryotic RNA. Under the jointly reversible regulation of related enzymes, m6A regulates many aspects of RNA, such as translation, stability and degradation. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of m6A in placenta-related diseases.

Methods

Data were compiled from 2018 to 2021 citations in PubMed and Google Scholar using the keywords: placenta AND N6-methyladenosine. Seven studies were included.

Results

In this study, we introduced some conventional methods to detect m6A modification at the whole RNA, region (peak) and single base levels. We also summarized the current studies of m6A modification in the placenta and briefly describe m6A in placental-related diseases, including recurrent miscarriage (RM), preeclampsia (PE) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Conclusions

Although the relevant reports are still in the preliminary stage and some results are inconsistent, studies on methylation m6A modification have contributed new ideas for the research of reproductive diseases, providing a new basis for the diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and monitoring of related diseases.


Corresponding author: Prof. Bin Yu, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, P.R. China, E-mail: ; and Prof. Lin Xia, International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, P.R. China, E-mail:
Wenbo Zhou and Pingping Xue contributed equally to this work.

Funding source: Talents Training Program of Changzhou Health Commission

Award Identifier / Grant number: CZQM2020103

Award Identifier / Grant number: CZQM2020095

Funding source: Science and technology project for young talents of Changzhou Health Commission

Award Identifier / Grant number: QN202048

Funding source: Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province

Award Identifier / Grant number: BK20201158

Funding source: General project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission

Award Identifier / Grant number: M2021079

Acknowledgments

We thank all authors for their contributions.

  1. Research funding: This work was supported by grants for Talents Training Program of Changzhou Health Commission (CZQM2020103, CZQM2020095); Science and technology project for young talents of Changzhou Health Commission (QN202048); Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (BK20201158); General project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission (M2021079).

  2. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.

  3. Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.

  4. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  5. Ethical approval: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.

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Received: 2021-12-12
Accepted: 2022-04-25
Published Online: 2022-05-25
Published in Print: 2022-10-26

© 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

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