Banushi Blerida, Collova Jemma, Milroy Helen
School of Indigenous Studies, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Mar 27;26(7):3075. doi: 10.3390/ijms26073075.
Trauma can impact individuals within a generation (intragenerational) and future generations (transgenerational) through a complex interplay of biological and environmental factors. This review explores the epigenetic mechanisms that have been correlated with the effects of trauma across generations, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. These mechanisms can regulate the expression of stress-related genes (such as the glucocorticoid receptor () and FK506 binding protein 5 () gene), linking trauma to biological pathways that may affect long-term stress regulation and health outcomes. Although research using model organisms has elucidated potential epigenetic mechanisms underlying the intergenerational effects of trauma, applying these findings to human populations remains challenging due to confounding variables, methodological limitations, and ethical considerations. This complexity is compounded by difficulties in establishing causality and in disentangling epigenetic influences from shared environmental factors. Emerging therapies, such as psychedelic-assisted treatments and mind-body interventions, offer promising avenues to address both the psychological and potential epigenetic aspects of trauma. However, translating these findings into effective interventions will require interdisciplinary methods and culturally sensitive approaches. Enriched environments, cultural reconnection, and psychosocial interventions have shown the potential to mitigate trauma's impacts within and across generations. By integrating biological, social, and cultural perspectives, this review highlights the critical importance of interdisciplinary frameworks in breaking cycles of trauma, fostering resilience, and advancing comprehensive healing across generations.
创伤可通过生物和环境因素的复杂相互作用，对一代人（代内）和后代（跨代）产生影响。本综述探讨了与创伤跨代影响相关的表观遗传机制，包括DNA甲基化、组蛋白修饰和非编码RNA。这些机制可调节应激相关基因（如糖皮质激素受体（）和FK506结合蛋白5（）基因）的表达，将创伤与可能影响长期应激调节和健康结果的生物学途径联系起来。尽管使用模式生物的研究已经阐明了创伤代际影响背后的潜在表观遗传机制，但由于混杂变量、方法学限制和伦理考量，将这些发现应用于人类群体仍然具有挑战性。在确定因果关系以及区分表观遗传影响与共享环境因素方面的困难，使这种复杂性进一步加剧。新兴疗法，如迷幻剂辅助治疗和身心干预，为解决创伤的心理和潜在表观遗传方面提供了有前景的途径。然而，将这些发现转化为有效的干预措施将需要跨学科方法和具有文化敏感性的方法。丰富的环境、文化重建和社会心理干预已显示出减轻创伤在代内和代际影响的潜力。通过整合生物、社会和文化视角，本综述强调了跨学科框架在打破创伤循环、培养复原力和推动跨代全面康复方面的至关重要性。
