Functions of RNA N(6)-methyladenosine modification in acute myeloid leukemia

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematologic malignancy with an unfavorable prognosis. A better understanding of AML pathogenesis and chemotherapy resistance at the molecular level is essential for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Apart from DNA methylation and histone modification, RNA epigenetic modification, another layer of epigenetic modification, also plays a critical role in gene expression regulation. Among the more than 150 kinds of RNA epigenetic modifications, N(6)-methyladenosine (m(6)A) is the most prevalent internal mRNA modification in eukaryotes and is involved in various biological processes, such as circadian rhythms, adipogenesis, T cell homeostasis, spermatogenesis, and the heat shock response. As a reversible and dynamic modification, m(6)A is deposited on specific target RNA molecules by methyltransferases and is removed by demethylases. Moreover, m(6)A binding proteins recognize m(6)A modifications, influencing RNA splicing, stability, translation, nuclear export, and localization at the posttranscriptional level. Emerging evidence suggests that dysregulation of m(6)A modification is involved in tumorigenesis, including that of AML. In this review, we summarize the most recent advances regarding the biological functions and molecular mechanisms of m(6)A RNA methylation in normal hematopoiesis, leukemia cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, therapeutic resistance, and leukemia stem cell/leukemia initiating cell (LSC/LIC) self-renewal. In addition, we discuss how m(6)A regulators are closely correlated with the clinical features of AML patients and may serve as new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for AML.