Epigenetic regulation of stress

Abstract

Stress can have powerful and lasting effects on our bodies and behavior, partly because it changes how our genes work. These processes, such as DNA methylation, histones modifications, and non-coding RNAs, help decide when genes are active or inactive in cells experiencing stress. This can lead to lasting changes in how the cells function. It's important to understand how these changes in our genes affect our response to stress, as they can lead to problems like anxiety, depression, and heart disease. This chapter explores the link between stress and epigenetics. It talks about how our surroundings and lifestyle can impact these processes. It also shows that epigenetic treatments might help with issues created by stress. By looking at how stress affects our genes, we can discover new ways to treat stress and make medicine better for individuals, helping to lessen the bad impact of stress on our health.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Epigenetics; Histone modifications; Non-coding RNAs; Stress.