title: Early life adversity and the epigenetic programming of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function.
abstract: We review studies with human and nonhuman species that examine the hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms, particularly those affecting the expression of genes implicated in stress responses, mediate the association between early childhood adversity and later risk of depression. The resulting studies provide evidence consistent with the idea that social adversity, particularly that involving parent-offspring interactions, alters the epigenetic state and expression of a wide range of genes, the products of which regulate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function. We also address the challenges for future studies, including that of the translation of epigenetic studies towards improvements in treatments.
authors.affiliation: Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Anacker
authors.affiliation: Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Kieran J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: O'Donnell
authors.affiliation: Ludmer Centre for Neuroinformatics and Mental Health, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Meaney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000502:physiology*; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: DNA methylation; chromatin; epigenetics; glucocorticoid receptor; hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; maternal care