Epigenetics and Psychiatry

Abstract

Psychiatric disorders including major depressive disorder, drug addiction, and schizophrenia are debilitating illnesses with a multitude of complex symptoms underlying each of these disorders. In recent years, it has become appreciated that the onset and development of these disorders goes beyond the one gene-one disease approach. Rather, the involvement of many genes is likely linked to these illnesses, and regulating the activation or silencing of gene function may play a crucial role in contributing to their pathophysiology. Epigenetic modifications such as histone acetylation and deacetylation, as well as DNA methylation can induce lasting and stable changes in gene expression, and have therefore been implicated in promoting the adaptive behavioral and neuronal changes that accompany each of these illnesses. In this review we will discuss some of the latest work implicating a potential role for epigenetics in psychiatric disorders, namely, depression, addiction, and schizophrenia as well as a possible role in treatment.

HDAC inhibitor–dependent transcriptome and memory reinstatement in cognitive decline models

“…Recent data suggest that histone acetylation regulates memory consolidation and may contribute to cognitive decline associated with neurodegenerative diseases (2)(3)(4)(5). Histone acetylation is regulated by the counteracting activity of histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs).…”

Ketamine produces antidepressant-like effects through phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export of histone deacetylase 5 (HDAC5) in rats

“…Recent studies have generated evidence that epigenetic regulation is closely involved in the pathophysiology of depression and in the therapeutic mechanisms of typical antidepressants (6,7). In addition, reports that sodium butyrate, a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, has antidepressant effects indicate that HDAC inhibition is sufficient to produce an antidepressant response (8).…”

Looking Above but Not Beyond the Genome for Therapeutics in Neurology and Psychiatry: Epigenetic Proteins and RNAs Find a New Focus

“…In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Martin and Wong (p. XX) [18] instead discuss the importance of DNA methylation and present potential therapeutic role of pharmacological inhibitors by targeting Dnmt3a activity. Finally, several psychiatric disorders are characterized by transcriptional impairments (Mahgoub and Monteggia, p. XX [19]). Despite the lack of evidence for therapeutics targeting the [20] extensively summarize the epigenetic alterations reported in the autism spectrum disorders (Angelman syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and Kabuki syndrome).…”