NSUN2‐Mediated m 5 C Modification of TGFB1 in Trophoblasts Remodels Macrophage Function to Prevent URSA

ABSTRACT Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (URSA) is a prevalent early pregnancy disorder with substantial implications for reproductive health, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover a previously unrecognized role of NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 2 (NSUN2), an RNA 5‐methylcytosine (m 5 C) methyltransferase, in safeguarding pregnancy by remodeling trophoblast mediated macrophage function. We demonstrate that NSUN2 expression and global m 5 C modification levels are significantly diminished in villous tissues from URSA patients. Trophoblast‐specific ablation of Nsun2 in mice resulted in embryonic absorption and decreased placental and fetal weight in mice underscoring its functional necessity in pregnancy maintenance. Mechanistically, loss of NSUN2 in trophoblasts impairs m 5 C deposition on TGFB1 mRNA, reducing the recruitment of the m 5 C reader YBX1, which in turn destabilizes the transcript and diminishes TGF‐β1 secretion, thereby suppressing M2 macrophage polarization and skewing the balance toward a pro‐inflammatory M1 phenotype. Notably, restoration of NSUN2 via adenovirus‐mediated gene delivery effectively rescues TGF‐β1 expression, rectifies macrophage imbalance, and alleviates embryo resorption in URSA mouse models. Collectively, our findings establish NSUN2 as an essential epigenetic regulator governing maternal‐fetal immune tolerance through m 5 C‐dependent stabilization of TGFB1 mRNA, and identify the NSUN2 /YBX1/TGFB1 axis as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for URSA.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-09-13
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.77562
Primary Topic
RNA modifications and cancer
Type
article
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article

NSUN2‐Mediated m 5 C Modification of TGFB1 in Trophoblasts Remodels Macrophage Function to Prevent URSA

Chenyang Shen, Xinkui Liu, Xiaoxiao Zhu, Chu Chu et al.
Advanced Science
RNA modifications and cancer
article

NSUN2‐Mediated m 5 C Modification of TGFB1 in Trophoblasts Remodels Macrophage Function to Prevent URSA

Chenyang Shen, Xinkui Liu, Xiaoxiao Zhu, Chu Chu, Xia Li, Qiaoqiao Han, Zhen Zhang, Xiaoyan Yu, Feifei Shi, Weiwei Song, Lu Liu
article en

Abstract

ABSTRACT Unexplained Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion (URSA) is a prevalent early pregnancy disorder with substantial implications for reproductive health, yet its pathogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, we uncover a previously unrecognized role of NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 2 (NSUN2), an RNA 5‐methylcytosine (m 5 C) methyltransferase, in safeguarding pregnancy by remodeling trophoblast mediated macrophage function. We demonstrate that NSUN2 expression and global m 5 C modification levels are significantly diminished in villous tissues from URSA patients. Trophoblast‐specific ablation of Nsun2 in mice resulted in embryonic absorption and decreased placental and fetal weight in mice underscoring its functional necessity in pregnancy maintenance. Mechanistically, loss of NSUN2 in trophoblasts impairs m 5 C deposition on TGFB1 mRNA, reducing the recruitment of the m 5 C reader YBX1, which in turn destabilizes the transcript and diminishes TGF‐β1 secretion, thereby suppressing M2 macrophage polarization and skewing the balance toward a pro‐inflammatory M1 phenotype. Notably, restoration of NSUN2 via adenovirus‐mediated gene delivery effectively rescues TGF‐β1 expression, rectifies macrophage imbalance, and alleviates embryo resorption in URSA mouse models. Collectively, our findings establish NSUN2 as an essential epigenetic regulator governing maternal‐fetal immune tolerance through m 5 C‐dependent stabilization of TGFB1 mRNA, and identify the NSUN2 /YBX1/TGFB1 axis as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for URSA.

Advanced Science
Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN), Shanghai Cancer Institute (CN), Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
RNA modifications and cancer
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