The Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Neurotoxicity Induced by Neonatal General Anesthesia

It has been widely demonstrated by numerous preclinical studies and clinical trials that the neonates receiving repeated or long-time general anesthesia (GA) could develop prolonged cognitive dysfunction. However, the definite mechanism remains largely unknown. Epigenetics, which is defined as heritable alterations in gene expression that are not a result of alteration of DNA sequence, includes DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), and RNA methylation. In recent years, the role of epigenetic modifications in neonatal GA-induced neurotoxicity has been widely explored and reported. In this review, we discuss and conclude the epigenetic mechanisms involving in the process of neonatal anesthesia-induced cognitive dysfunction. Also, we analyze the wide prospects of epigenetics in this field and its possibility to work as treatment target.