尽管现代医疗治疗有所改善，炎症性疾病，如动脉粥样硬化、糖尿病、非酒精性脂肪肝、慢性肾病和自身免疫疾病依然具有较高的发病率，仍然威胁着人类健康，并代表着巨大的经济负担。N6-甲基腺苷酸（m6A）对RNA的修饰对各种疾病的发病机制起着一定的作用。作为最广泛讨论的m6A甲基转移酶，METTL3在炎症性疾病中的致病作用已成为研究的热点，但还没有对该主题进行综合性的回顾。在这里，我们总结了METTL3在心血管、代谢、变性、免疫和传染性疾病以及肿瘤中的表达变化、修饰靶基因和病理机制。除了上皮细胞、内皮细胞和成纤维细胞之外，METTL3还调节与炎症相关的免疫细胞的功能，包括巨噬细胞、中性粒细胞、树突状细胞、Th17细胞和NK细胞。在治疗应用方面，METTL3作为治疗具有天然植物药物成分的炎症性疾病的靶点，如大黄素、肉桂醛、粟薯总黄酮和白藜芦醇。该综述重点关注METTL3在炎症性疾病的起始、发展和治疗应用方面的最新进展。对于涉及METTL3的具体调控机制的了解可以帮助加深对炎症性疾病的理解，并为开发精确靶向药物以干预炎症过程奠定基础。Copyright © 2023 Song, Zeng, Cao, Zhang, Xu, Pan, Zhao and Liu.

Despite improvements in modern medical therapies, inflammatory diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, chronic kidney diseases, and autoimmune diseases have high incidence rates, still threaten human health, and represent a huge financial burden. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of RNA contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases. As the most widely discussed m6A methyltransferase, the pathogenic role of METTL3 in inflammatory diseases has become a research hotspot, but there has been no comprehensive review of the topic. Here, we summarize the expression changes, modified target genes, and pathogenesis related to METTL3 in cardiovascular, metabolic, degenerative, immune, and infectious diseases, as well as tumors. In addition to epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts, METTL3 also regulates the function of inflammation-related immune cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, dendritic cells, Th17 cells, and NK cells. Regarding therapeutic applications, METTL3 serves as a target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases with natural plant drug components, such as emodin, cinnamaldehyde, total flavonoids of Abelmoschus manihot, and resveratrol. This review focuses on recent advances in the initiation, development, and therapeutic application of METTL3 in inflammatory diseases. Knowledge of the specific regulatory mechanisms involving METTL3 can help to deepen understanding of inflammatory diseases and lay the foundation for the development of precisely targeted drugs to address inflammatory processes.Copyright © 2023 Song, Zeng, Cao, Zhang, Xu, Pan, Zhao and Liu.