Epigenetic programming of the neuroendocrine stress response by adult life stress

Apr 13, 2017Journal of molecular endocrinology

How Adult Stress May Change Gene Control of the Body’s Stress Response

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

Epigenetic modifications may significantly alter HPA axis function and behavioral responses following stress exposure.

Dysregulation of the HPA axis is linked to several stress-related disorders, including major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Early life stress can have lasting effects on the neuroendocrine system by changing gene expression through epigenetic regulation.
Adult psychological trauma may also induce epigenetic changes that impact HPA axis function and behavioral adaptation.
Correlations exist between epigenetic modifications and behavioral outcomes following trauma, suggesting a molecular mechanism for these changes.
Understanding epigenetic modulation could enhance treatment strategies for stress-related psychiatric conditions.

AI simplified

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is critically involved in the neuroendocrine regulation of stress adaptation, and the restoration of homeostasis following stress exposure. Dysregulation of this axis is associated with stress-related pathologies like major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic disorder and chronic anxiety. It has long been understood that stress during early life can have a significant lasting influence on the development of the neuroendocrine system and its neural regulators, partially by modifying epigenetic regulation of gene expression, with implications for health and well-being in later life. Evidence is accumulating that epigenetic plasticity also extends to adulthood, proposing it as a mechanism by which psychological trauma later in life can long-lastingly affect HPA axis function, brain plasticity, neuronal function and behavioural adaptation to neuropsychological stress. Further corroborating this claim is the phenomenon that these epigenetic changes correlate with the behavioural consequences of trauma exposure. Thereby, epigenetic modifications provide a putative molecular mechanism by which the behavioural phenotype and transcriptional/translational potential of genes involved in HPA axis regulation can change drastically in response to environmental challenges, and appear an important target for treatment of stress-related disorders. However, improved insight is required to increase their therapeutic (drug) potential. Here, we provide an overview of the growing body of literature describing the epigenetic modulation of the (primarily neuroendocrine) stress response as a consequence of adult life stress and interpret the implications for, and the challenges involved in applying this knowledge to, the identification and treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (HTML) ↗View full text ↗

Epigenetic programming of the neuroendocrine stress response by adult life stress

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief