# YTHDF2 in inflammation: Mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

## TL;DR

This review explores how YTHDF2, an RNA-binding protein, influences inflammation and how targeting it could lead to new therapies for inflammatory diseases.

## Contribution

The paper systematically summarizes YTHDF2's role in immune cell function and inflammatory diseases and highlights recent advances in therapeutic strategies targeting it.

## Key findings

- YTHDF2 regulates RNA stability and translation by recognizing m6A/m5C sites, affecting inflammatory responses.
- YTHDF2 contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases through specific molecular mechanisms.
- Recent advances in developing selective therapeutic agents targeting YTHDF2 are reviewed.

## Abstract

Inflammation is a double-edged sword in biology. Moderate immune responses effectively eliminate pathogens and promote tissue repair, while excessive or persistent inflammation drives acute and chronic diseases. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a central RNA epigenetic modification, dynamically regulates inflammatory initiation, amplification, and resolution. Among m6A-binding proteins, YTHDF2—the first identified mammalian m6A reader—modulates inflammatory responses by recognizing m6A/m5C sites to control RNA stability and translation. This review reports novel insights into the role of YTHDF2 in regulating immune cell functions and inflammatory signaling pathways across various disease contexts. Specifically, it systematically summarizes the molecular mechanisms through which YTHDF2 contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases and reviews recent advances in the development of selective therapeutic agents targeting YTHDF2. Additionally, the functional complexity of YTHDF2 within specific pathological environments is discussed, and the current challenges facing the translation of these findings into targeted therapies are outlined. This review is expected to serve as a theoretical foundation for prospective therapeutic strategies employing novel epigenomic regulation-based approaches to treat inflammatory diseases.