About this Research Topic

Background

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a multifactorial disease, weakly linked to multiple genetic risk factors. In contrast to that, environmental factors and “gene and environment” interaction have been strongly linked to MDD vulnerability. Stressors can act on the interface between an organism, the environment, and the epigenome. Epigenetic mechanisms regulate gene expression, influencing protein levels and ultimately shaping phenotypes during life. However, both stochastic epigenetic variations and environmental reprogramming of the epigenome might influence neurodevelopment and aging. This may also contribute to the origins of mental ill health. DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and histone modifications have been reported to be crucial targets for interaction with the stress response system. Studying the role of epigenetic mechanisms is challenging, as genotype-, tissue- and cell-type-dependent epigenetic changes have to be taken into account. While the nature of mental disorders also poses significant challenges.

Consistent lines of evidence in both human and rodent studies show that environmental factors regulate gene transcription (GxE), and epigenetic mechanisms have emerged as prime candidates for mediating GxE interactions in several brain regions. Therefore, in this Research Topic, we invite researchers to contribute manuscripts with original in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies that investigate the potential contribution of DNA methylation, noncoding RNAs, and histone modifications to MDD. We also welcome meta-analyses and reviews that assess and discuss the results of the most replicated human studies of these alterations related to environmental exposures associated with MDD. Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Histone Modifications in Major Depressive Disorder and Related Rodent Models
• DNA Methylation in Major Depressive Disorder
• Noncoding RNAs in Depression
• How Do Current Antidepressants Affect the Epigenome?
• Electroconvulsive Therapy and Epigenome Alterations
• New Approaches for Neuro Epigenetic Study

Keywords: Depressive disorder, neurobiological mechanism, antidepressant, multi-omics

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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