Multifaceted Roles of the <i>N</i><sup>6</sup>-Methyladenosine RNA Methyltransferase METTL3 in Cancer and Immune Microenvironment
Chenxi Hu,
Jiacheng Liu,
Yue Li,
Wei Jiang,
Ding Ji,
Wei Liu,
Teng Ma
Affiliations
Chenxi Hu
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Jiacheng Liu
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Yue Li
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Wei Jiang
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Ding Ji
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Wei Liu
Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Hebei Medical University, 361 Zhongshan East Rd., Shijiazhuang 050017, China
Teng Ma
Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing 101149, China
As the most abundant internal mRNA modification in eukaryotic cells, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as an important regulator of gene expression and has a profound impact on cancer initiation and progression. mRNA m6A modification is regulated by m6A methyltransferases, demethylases and reader proteins to fine tune gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The most well-studied m6A methyltransferase, METTL3, plays critical roles in regulating gene expression and affecting the outcome of various cancers. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted roles of METTL3 in regulating specific molecular signaling pathways in different types of cancers and the recent progress on how METTL3 impacts the tumor immune microenvironment. Finally, we discuss future directions and the potential for therapeutic targeting of METTL3 in cancer treatment.
