Mechanisms of stress in the brain

Bruce S McEwen; Nicole P Bowles; Jason D Gray; Matthew N Hill; Richard G Hunter; Ilia N Karatsoreos; Carla Nasca

doi:10.1038/nn.4086

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Mechanisms of stress in the brain

Bruce S McEwen, Nicole P Bowles, Jason D Gray, Matthew N Hill, Richard G Hunter, Ilia N Karatsoreos and Carla Nasca

Nature neuroscience, Vol.18(10), pp.1353-1363

10/2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4086

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https://hdl.handle.net/2376/110611

PMCID: PMC4933289

PMID: 26404710

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Abstract

Animals

Neuronal Plasticity - physiology

Brain - physiopathology

Epigenesis, Genetic

Humans

Stress, Psychological - psychology

Stress, Psychological - physiopathology

The brain is the central organ involved in perceiving and adapting to social and physical stressors via multiple interacting mediators, from the cell surface to the cytoskeleton to epigenetic regulation and nongenomic mechanisms. A key result of stress is structural remodeling of neural architecture, which may be a sign of successful adaptation, whereas persistence of these changes when stress ends indicates failed resilience. Excitatory amino acids and glucocorticoids have key roles in these processes, along with a growing list of extra- and intracellular mediators that includes endocannabinoids and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The result is a continually changing pattern of gene expression mediated by epigenetic mechanisms involving histone modifications and CpG methylation and hydroxymethylation as well as by the activity of retrotransposons that may alter genomic stability. Elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of plasticity and vulnerability of the brain provides a basis for understanding the efficacy of interventions for anxiety and depressive disorders as well as age-related cognitive decline.

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Title: Mechanisms of stress in the brain
Creators: Bruce S McEwen - Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
Nicole P Bowles - Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
Jason D Gray - Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
Matthew N Hill - Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Richard G Hunter - Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Ilia N Karatsoreos - Department of Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA
Carla Nasca - Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
Publication Details: Nature neuroscience, Vol.18(10), pp.1353-1363
Academic Unit: Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience, Department of
Publisher: United States
Grant note: F32 MH102065 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH041256 / NIMH NIH HHS R01 MH41256 / NIMH NIH HHS
Identifiers: 99900547377101842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article