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Study Links Stress Hormones to Gene Changes in Depression

11/5/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, led by Professor Yogesh Dwivedi, report that stress hormones silence neuronal genes by guiding long noncoding RNAs to chromatin and recruiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) after glucocorticoid receptor activation.
The mechanism may drive lasting gene-expression changes linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).
The findings suggest biomarkers of stress vulnerability.
They indicate therapeutic targets for antidepressants addressing chromatin modifications.

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Story summary

Researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, led by Professor Yogesh Dwivedi, report that stress hormones silence neuronal genes by guiding long noncoding RNAs to chromatin and recruiting polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) after glucocorticoid receptor activation.
The mechanism may drive lasting gene-expression changes linked to major depressive disorder (MDD).
The findings suggest biomarkers of stress vulnerability.
They indicate therapeutic targets for antidepressants addressing chromatin modifications.