Abstract
Abstract Epigenetic modifications play a key role in development and cell type specificity. These modifications seem to be particularly critical for brain development, where mutations in epigenetic enzymes have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders as well as with the function of post-mitotic neurons. Epigenetic modifications can be influenced by genetic and environmental factors, both known major risk factors for psychiatric disorders. Epigenetic modifications may thus be an important mediator of the effects of genetic and environmental risk factors on cell function. This review summarizes the different types of epigenetic regulation and then focuses on the mechanisms transducing environmental signals, especially adverse life events that are major risk factors for psychiatric disorders, into lasting epigenetic changes. This is followed by examples of how the environment can induce epigenetic changes that relate to the risk of psychiatric disorders.
Highlights
Psychiatric diseases have complex causes; both genetic and environmental risk factors are known to play a key role
This review summarizes the different types of epigenetic regulation and focuses on the mechanisms transducing environmental signals, especially adverse life events that are major risk factors for psychiatric disorders, into lasting epigenetic changes
We present a summary of epigenetic mechanisms and their relevance to the brain, examples of how the environment can cause epigenetic changes, and the role of environmentally induced epigenetic changes in psychiatric disorders
Summary
Psychiatric diseases have complex causes; both genetic and environmental risk factors are known to play a key role. Epigenetic mechanisms have been presented as the molecular basis for the biological embedding of environmental factors. The field of epigenetics has become increasingly important in psychiatry. We present a summary of epigenetic mechanisms and their relevance to the brain, examples of how the environment can cause epigenetic changes, and the role of environmentally induced epigenetic changes in psychiatric disorders
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