Epigenetic modifier m⁶A methylation: insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutic potential of autoimmune diseases

N6-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation is a predominant form of RNA modification in eukaryotic cells. It exerts profound influence over the processing of mRNA, rRNA and tRNA, thereby playing a critical role in various biological processes, including RNA transcription, splicing, degradation, and translation regulation. The m⁶A methylation significantly affects cell fate and signal transduction pathways by regulating gene expression. Notably, aberrant m⁶A modification is strongly associated with the onset and progression of autoimmune diseases. Emerging evidence indicates that these regulatory factors display disease-specific expression patterns and functional roles, influencing immune-cell differentiation and effector functions, inflammatory responses, and tissue injury. This article provides an overview of recent advances in m⁶A biology in autoimmunity and discusses their implications for diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.