title: Epigenetic Modifications of Major Depressive Disorder.
abstract: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a chronic disease whose neurological basis and pathophysiology remain poorly understood. Initially, it was proposed that genetic variations were responsible for the development of this disease. Nevertheless, several studies within the last decade have provided evidence suggesting that environmental factors play an important role in MDD pathophysiology. Alterations in epigenetics mechanism, such as DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA expression could favor MDD advance in response to stressful experiences and environmental factors. The aim of this review is to describe genetic alterations, and particularly altered epigenetic mechanisms, that could be determinants for MDD progress, and how these alterations may arise as useful screening, diagnosis and treatment monitoring biomarkers of depressive disorders.
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. kathleen.saavedra@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. anamariamolinamarquez@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana María
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Molina-Márquez
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. nicolas.saavedra@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saavedra
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. tomas.zambrano@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: Center of Molecular Biology and Pharmacogenetics, Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. luis.salazar@ufrontera.cl.|Millennium Institute for Research in Depression and Personality (MIDAP), Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811230, Chile. luis.salazar@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salazar
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D019175:DNA Methylation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents
keywords: biomarkers; depression; epigenetic modifications; histone modification; major depressive disorder; methylation; miRNAs