Identification of differential m6A RNA methylomes and ALKBH5 as a potential prevention target in the developmental neurotoxicity induced by multiple sevoflurane exposures

Abstract Sevoflurane, as a commonly used inhaled anesthetic for pediatric patients, has been reported that multiple sevoflurane exposures are associated with a greater risk of developing neurocognitive disorder. N6‐Methyladenosine (m6A), as the most common mRNA modification in eukaryotes, has emerged as a crucial regulator of brain function in processes involving synaptic plasticity, learning and memory, and neurodevelopment. Nevertheless, the relevance of m6A RNA methylation in the multiple sevoflurane exposure‐induced developmental neurotoxicity remains mostly elusive. Herein, we evaluated the genome‐wide m6A RNA modification and gene expression in hippocampus of mice that received with multiple sevoflurane exposures using m6A‐sequencing (m6A‐seq) and RNA‐sequencing (RNA‐seq). We discovered 19 genes with differences in the m6A methylated modification and differential expression in the hippocampus. Among these genes, we determined that a total of nine differential expressed genes may be closely associated with the occurrence of developmental neurotoxicity induced by multiple sevoflurane exposures. We further found that the alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), but not methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3) and Wilms tumor 1‐associated protein (WTAP), were increased in the hippocampus of mice that received with multiple sevoflurane exposures. And the IOX1, as an inhibitor of ALKBH5, significantly improved the learning and memory defects and reduced neuronal damage in the hippocampus of mice induced by multiple sevoflurane exposures. The current study revealed the role of m6A methylated modification and m6A‐related regulators in sevoflurane‐induced cognitive impairment, which might provide a novel insight into identifying biomarkers and therapeutic strategies for inhaled anesthetic‐induced developmental neurotoxicity.