Integrated analysis of the transcriptome-wide m6A methylome in preeclampsia and healthy control placentas

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification in eukaryotic mRNA and potential regulatory functions of m6A have been shown by mapping the RNA m6A modification landscape. M6A modification in active gene regulation manifests itself as altered methylation profiles. However, the profiling of m6A modification and its potential role in preeclampsia (PE) has not yet been studied. In this work, placental samples were collected from PE and control patients. MeRIP-seq was performed to identify differences in m6A methylatio. Altered peaks of m6A-modified transcripts were primarily associated with nitrogen compound metabolic process, positive regulation of vascular-associated smooth muscle cell migration, and endoplasmic reticulum organisation. The m6A hyper-methylated genes of Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway, mTOR signalling pathway, and several cancer-related pathways may contribute to PE. Our data provide novel information regarding m6A modification alterations in PE and help our understanding of the pathogenesis of PE. RNA m6A modification landscape of placental samples of preeclampsia (n=4) and control patients (n=4), were generated by Illumina Hiseq 4000.