Epigenetic Insights into Stress-Related Disorders
A special issue of Genes (ISSN 2073-4425). This special issue belongs to the section "Human Genomics and Genetic Diseases".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 May 2026 | Viewed by 104
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Stress is a critical environmental factor that shapes health trajectories from early development through to adulthood. Increasing evidence shows that stress not only influences physiological and psychological processes but also becomes biologically embedded through epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNAs. These molecular processes play a central role in determining vulnerability or resilience to mental health outcomes across the lifespan.
This Special Issue invites contributions that explore how stress affects health through epigenetic pathways. We welcome original research, reviews, and methodological articles on topics such as the following:
- Epigenetic signatures of early-life adversity and their long-term effects.
- Biological mechanisms linking stress to resilience and mental health outcomes.
- The role of stress physiology in shaping epigenetic regulation.
- Novel approaches targeting epigenetic processes to mitigate stress-related health risks.
By drawing on multidisciplinary work across psychobiology, developmental epigenetics, molecular biology, and mental health sciences, this Special Issue aims to advance understanding of the biological embedding of stress and highlight potential avenues for prevention and intervention.
Dr. Lei Cao
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Genes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- stress
- epigenetics
- stress-related disorders
- intervention
- resilience
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