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Epigenetics of depression is the study of how epigenetics (heritable characteristics that do not involve changes in DNA sequence) contribute to depression.
Major depressive disorder is heavily influenced by environmental and genetic factors. These factors include epigenetic modification of the genome which may result in a persistent change in gene expression without a change in the actual DNA sequence. Genetic and environmental factors can influence the genome throughout a life; however, an individual is most susceptible during childhood.[1] Early life stresses that could lead to major depressive disorder include periodic maternal separation, child abuse, divorce, and loss.[2][3] These factors can result in epigenetic marks that can alter gene expression and impact the development of key brain regions such as the hippocampus.[4][2] Epigenetic factors, such as DNA methylation, could serve as potential predictors for the effectiveness of certain antidepressant treatments, as well as show associations with depression symptoms.[5][3] The use of antidepressants can be also associated with changes in DNA methylation levels.[6] Identifying gene with altered expression could result in new antidepressant treatments.[3]
- ^ Heim C, Binder EB (January 2012). "Current research trends in early life stress and depression: review of human studies on sensitive periods, gene-environment interactions, and epigenetics". Experimental Neurology. 233 (1): 102–11. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.10.032. PMID 22101006. S2CID 42993795.
- ^ a b Toyokawa S, Uddin M, Koenen KC, Galea S (January 2012). "How does the social environment 'get into the mind'? Epigenetics at the intersection of social and psychiatric epidemiology". Social Science & Medicine. 74 (1): 67–74. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.09.036. PMC 3246041. PMID 22119520.
- ^ a b c Vialou V, Feng J, Robison AJ, Nestler EJ (2013). "Epigenetic mechanisms of depression and antidepressant action". Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 53 (1): 59–87. doi:10.1146/annurev-pharmtox-010611-134540. PMC 3711377. PMID 23020296.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Sunwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Penner-Goeke S, Binder EB (December 2019). "Epigenetics and depression". Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 21 (4): 397–405. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2019.21.4/ebinder. ISSN 1958-5969. PMC 6952745. PMID 31949407.
- ^ Menke A, Binder EB (September 2014). "Epigenetic alterations in depression and antidepressant treatment". Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience. 16 (3): 395–404. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2014.16.3/amenke. PMC 4214180. PMID 25364288.