生物学と医学

概要

A brief review of epigenetic aspects involved in depression

Catalina Lima-Conti and Adriana Madeira Alvarez da Silva-Conforti

It is known that external environmental or internal physiological factors interact with an individual's genetic makeup to determine their risk of depression throughout their life. This is possible through epigenetic mechanisms that lead to changes in gene expression (the ability to be passed on across generations) without changes in DNA sequence. Here, we briefly summarize the relationship between depression and epigenetics, taking into account that stressful events are important triggers of these changes. The growing knowledge in this issue is important for updating and expanding our understanding of the molecular basis of this mood disorder.