Epigenetic mechanisms in depression: Implications for pathogenesis and treatment

Hong-Sheng Chen; Fang Wang; Jian-Guo Chen

doi:10.1016/j.conb.2024.102854

Epigenetic mechanisms in depression: Implications for pathogenesis and treatment

Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2024 Apr:85:102854. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102854. Epub 2024 Feb 23.

Authors

Hong-Sheng Chen¹, Fang Wang², Jian-Guo Chen³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan 430030, China.
² Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan 430030, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan 430030, China.
³ Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Key Laboratory for Drug Target Researches and Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430030, China; The Research Center for Depression, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science, Wuhan 430030, China; The Key Laboratory of Neurological Diseases (HUST), Ministry of Education of China, Wuhan 430030, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38401316
DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102854

Abstract

The risk of depression is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. It has been suggested that epigenetic mechanisms may mediate the risk of depression following exposure to adverse life events. Epigenetics encompasses stable alterations in gene expression that are controlled through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational, or post-translational processes, including DNA modifications, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, RNA modifications, and non-coding RNA (ncRNA) regulation, without any changes in the DNA sequence. In this review, we explore recent research advancements in the realm of epigenetics concerning depression. Furthermore, we evaluate the potential of epigenetic changes as diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers for depression.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biomarkers
Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly
DNA Methylation
Depression* / genetics
Depression* / therapy
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Protein Processing, Post-Translational

Substances

Biomarkers