The emerging clinical application of m6A RNA modification in inflammatory bowel disease and its associated colorectal cancer

Abstract

Methylation, first proposed in DNAs, but later found in RNAs, serves as one of the most widespread epigenetic modifications in eukaryotes, where N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been found to play an important role in a variety of cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC). Under the action of various enzymes and proteins, the regulatory role of m6A in RNAs and immune cells has also been gradually realized. This paper reviews the general biogenesis and effects of m6A, and its emerging crucial role in intestinal mucosal immunity via the regulation of RNAs and immune cells, and thus closely related to the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and CRC. m6A-related genes and regulatory factors are expected to be potential predictive markers and therapeutic targets.