title: Understanding the epigenetic basis of sex differences in depression.
abstract: Epigenetics refers to potentially heritable processes that can mediate both lasting and transient changes in gene expression in the absence of genome sequence alterations. The field of epigenetics has introduced a novel understanding of the mechanisms through which the environment can shape an individual and potentially its offspring. This Mini-Review examines the current literature exploring the role of epigenetics in the development of mood disorders such as depression. Depression is twofold more common in females, yet the majority of preclinical research has been conducted exclusively in male subjects. Here we discuss what is known about sex differences in epigenetic regulation and function and how this may contribute to the etiology and onset of mood disorders. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Georgia E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hodes
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Deena M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Benoit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Labonté
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nestler
authors.affiliation: Fishberg Department of Neuroscience and Freidman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
authors.forename: Scott J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003863:Depression / Q000235:genetics*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D012727:Sex Characteristics
keywords: depression; epigenetics; sex differences; stress