Adolescent alcohol exposure changes RNA modifications in adult brain by mass spectrometry-based comprehensive profiling analysis

Abstract

Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Adolescence is a critical period of structural and functional maturation of the brain. Adolescent alcohol use can alter epigenetic modifications. However, little is known on the long-term effects of alcohol consumption during adolescence on RNA epigenetic modifications in brain. Herein, we systematically explored the long-term effects of alcohol exposure during adolescence on small RNA modifications in adult rat brain tissues by comprehensive liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis. We totally detected 26 modifications in small RNA of brain tissues. Notably, we observed most of these modifications were decreased in brain tissues. These results suggest that alcohol exposure during adolescence may impose a long-lasting impact on RNA modifications in brain tissues. This is the first report that alcohol use during adolescence can alter RNA modifications in adult brain. Collectively, this study suggests a long-term adverse effects of alcohol consumption on brain from RNA epigenetics angle by comprehensive mass spectrometry analysis.