Epigenetics, Environment, and Brain Disorders

Dear Colleagues,

In the last 15 years, the brain epigenome has emerged as a biological substrate through which environmental and genetic risk factors can interact to bring about brain disorders. Numerous studies have shown that epigenomes of brain cells are dynamic and responsive to environmental cues throughout life. Epigenetic gene regulation is essential for normal brain development and, therefore, epigenetic disruption early in life can lead to lasting consequences for brain function and behavior. The brain epigenome continues to be plastic in the adolescent period and adulthood, further providing a substrate through which environmental exposures can affect brain gene expression, structure, and function.  Although the current evidence strongly supports the epigenetic link between environmental risk factors and brain disorders, the issues of causality and underlying mechanisms have still to be addressed more thoroughly. In addition, many new issues in the neuroepigenetics field have recently been highlighted including: Sex-, brain region- and cell type-specificity; specific windows of exposure; the relevance of peripheral epigenetic markers for brain studies; cross-generational epigenetic effects. We invite investigators to contribute original research articles, review articles, or short commentaries that will further stimulate the development of this field and provide new ideas on how to use this knowledge to improve our understanding of brain disorders, their diagnosis, early interventions, and treatments. Both animal and human studies are encouraged. Potential topics for this Special Issue may include, but are not limited to:

• effects of environmental exposures including stress, toxicants, drugs, nutrition, and viral infections on the brain epigenome and behavior throughout life;
• sex-specific epigenetic (dys)regulation in the brain;
• epigenome editing in the brain;
• inter- and trans-generational epigenetic effects of environmental exposures of relevance to brain and behavior;
• peripheral epigenetic markers of environmental exposures of relevance to neurodevelopment and adult-onset brain disorders;
• new methods and recommendations for future studies in neuroepigenetics and environmental epigenetics;
• epigenetic changes and mechanisms in brain disorders.

Prof. Dr. Marija Kundakovic
Guest Editor

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