Alteration of the m ⁶ A Methylation Landscape in a Mouse Model of Scleroderma

Abstract

<b>Aim:</b> To explore the N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation of mRNAs and its roles in a mouse model of scleroderma. <b>Materials & methods:</b> To evaluate whether the mouse model of scleroderma could meet the experimental requirements, we examined skin tissue specimens by pathological staining and identified the related indicators by quantitative PCR (qPCR). m⁶A-tagged mRNAs were identified via m⁶A epitranscriptomic microarray, and m⁶A-RNA-immunoprecipitation qPCR and qPCR were performed to confirm microarray data. <b>Results:</b> There were differences in m⁶A methylation among 843 mRNAs. Further, there were significant differences among <i>Hras</i>, <i>Saa1</i>, <i>Ccl3</i>, <i>Ccl9</i> and <i>Il1b</i> in terms of methylation and expression. <b>Conclusion:</b> The m⁶A methylation spectrum in a mouse model of scleroderma may explain the occurrence of scleroderma.