JMJD1A in inflammation and cancer: regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide and poses a serious threat to human life and health. Epigenetic regulators play an important role during the initiation and progression of cancer. JMJD1A, a member of the JMJD family, specifically removes the methyl groups from H3K9me1/2. JMJD1A is aberrantly expressed in multiple cancer types, including colorectal, gastric, liver, lung, bladder, and breast cancer. Moreover, evidence indicates that JMJD1A is closely associated with various inflammatory diseases. Chronic inflammation is a well-established driver of cancer, and JMJD1A may serve as a potential molecular link between inflammation and cancer. This review summarizes the structural characteristics and enzymatic functions of JMJD1A, as well as its regulatory mechanisms in various inflammatory diseases. It further elucidates how JMJD1A promotes cancer development by modulating signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Finally, we discuss the prospects and challenges of developing JMJD1A inhibitors as a therapeutic strategy, which may offer new insights for the treatment of related diseases.