Aljabali Alaa A A, Alkaraki Almuthanna K, Gammoh Omar, Tambuwala Murtaza M, Mishra Vijay, Mishra Yachana, Hassan Sk Sarif, El-Tanani Mohamed
Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmaceutical Technology, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan.
Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Yarmouk University, Irbid 21163, Jordan.
Biology (Basel). 2024 Aug 20;13(8):638. doi: 10.3390/biology13080638.
Depression, a significant mental health disorder, is under intense research scrutiny to uncover its molecular foundations. Epigenetics, which focuses on controlling gene expression without altering DNA sequences, offers promising avenues for innovative treatment. This review explores the pivotal role of epigenetics in depression, emphasizing two key aspects: (I) identifying epigenetic targets for new antidepressants and (II) using personalized medicine based on distinct epigenetic profiles, highlighting potential epigenetic focal points such as DNA methylation, histone structure alterations, and non-coding RNA molecules such as miRNAs. Variations in DNA methylation in individuals with depression provide opportunities to target genes that are associated with neuroplasticity and synaptic activity. Aberrant histone acetylation may indicate that antidepressant strategies involve enzyme modifications. Modulating miRNA levels can reshape depression-linked gene expression. The second section discusses personalized medicine based on epigenetic profiles. Analyzing these patterns could identify biomarkers associated with treatment response and susceptibility to depression, facilitating tailored treatments and proactive mental health care. Addressing ethical concerns regarding epigenetic information, such as privacy and stigmatization, is crucial in understanding the biological basis of depression. Therefore, researchers must consider these issues when examining the role of epigenetics in mental health disorders. The importance of epigenetics in depression is a critical aspect of modern medical research. These findings hold great potential for novel antidepressant medications and personalized treatments, which would significantly improve patient outcomes, and transform psychiatry. As research progresses, it is expected to uncover more complex aspects of epigenetic processes associated with depression, enhance our comprehension, and increase the effectiveness of therapies.
抑郁症是一种严重的精神健康障碍，正受到深入的研究审视，以揭示其分子基础。表观遗传学专注于在不改变DNA序列的情况下控制基因表达，为创新治疗提供了有前景的途径。本综述探讨了表观遗传学在抑郁症中的关键作用，强调了两个关键方面：（I）确定新型抗抑郁药的表观遗传靶点；（II）基于独特的表观遗传特征使用个性化药物，突出了潜在的表观遗传焦点，如DNA甲基化、组蛋白结构改变以及miRNA等非编码RNA分子。抑郁症患者DNA甲基化的变化为靶向与神经可塑性和突触活动相关的基因提供了机会。异常的组蛋白乙酰化可能表明抗抑郁策略涉及酶修饰。调节miRNA水平可以重塑与抑郁症相关的基因表达。第二部分讨论了基于表观遗传特征的个性化药物。分析这些模式可以识别与治疗反应和抑郁症易感性相关的生物标志物，促进量身定制的治疗和积极的心理健康护理。解决与表观遗传信息相关的伦理问题，如隐私和污名化，对于理解抑郁症的生物学基础至关重要。因此，研究人员在研究表观遗传学在精神健康障碍中的作用时必须考虑这些问题。表观遗传学在抑郁症中的重要性是现代医学研究的一个关键方面。这些发现对于新型抗抑郁药物和个性化治疗具有巨大潜力，这将显著改善患者的治疗效果，并改变精神病学。随着研究的进展，预计将揭示与抑郁症相关的表观遗传过程中更复杂的方面，增强我们的理解，并提高治疗的有效性。
