Epigenetic Modifications of Early-Life Stress and Adult Life Psychopathology

Abstract

There is much evidence linking adverse conditions during early life to risk of developing mood disorders in later life. Exposures to high levels of stress during early development are able to impact maturation of pathways regulating stress and immune systems leading to programming long-term changes in stress reactivity and immune functioning throughout later life. Current research is investigating the molecular mechanisms controlling this programming, specifically, how epigenetic mechanisms are able to induce long-lasting changes in gene expression potential at key genes important in modulating stress and inflammatory responses. In this chapter, I discuss the evidence linking how early-life environments drive long-term outcomes through the regulation of neuroendocrine and immune pathways specifically implicated in lasting perturbations in HPA axis and glucocorticoid regulation leading to vulnerability to the development of psychopathology.