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World J Exp Med. Mar 20, 2026; 16(1): 116383
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116383
Published online Mar 20, 2026. doi: 10.5493/wjem.v16.i1.116383
Double-edged role of N6-methyladenosine reader YTH structural domain family protein 2 in neurological disorders: Molecular mechanisms and translational prospects
Yu-Meng Liu, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China
Ming Liu, Bin Li, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China
Ming Liu, The Base of Military Working Dogs, Nanjing 210012, Jiangsu Province, China
Hang Yuan, College of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China
Bin Li, Center for Integrative Physiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Saarland, Homburg 66424, Saarland, Germany
Co-first authors: Yu-Meng Liu and Ming Liu.
Author contributions: Liu YM and Liu M contributed to writing original draft, and they contributed equally to this manuscript and are co-first authors; Yuan H and Li B contributed to collecting literature; Liu M and Li B contributed to revising manuscript; Li B contributed to designing research ideas, funding acquisition. All authors contributed to the discussion.
Supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 82504755; Top-Level Talents Support Program of Yangzhou University, No. 137013152; and the “Lv Yang Jin Feng” Outstanding Doctor of Yangzhou.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Bin Li, PhD, Assistant Professor, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, No. 88 Daxue South Road, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China. lib111701@163.com
Received: November 10, 2025
Revised: December 23, 2025
Accepted: February 11, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 125 Days and 4.8 Hours
Revised: December 23, 2025
Accepted: February 11, 2026
Published online: March 20, 2026
Processing time: 125 Days and 4.8 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: This mini-review synthesizes evidence that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader YTH structural domain family (YTHDF) 2 exerts context-dependent, often bidirectional effects in neurodegeneration and glioma by directing degradation of m6A-marked transcripts. YTHDF2 is regulated by upstream axes and interacts functionally with m6A writers/erasers. Because its net effect depends on cell type, brain region, disease stage and target dosage, YTHDF2 constitutes both a mechanistic biomarker and a selectively tractable therapeutic target; advancing translation will require cell/region-resolved targetome mapping, longitudinal dynamics, and testing of conditional genetics, small molecules and antisense oligonucleotides.