How stress affects gene expression through epigenetic modifications

Physical and/or psychological stressors elicit a stress response in mammals which result in a cascade of downstream biological processes that can have implications on health. One of the most commonly studied biological responses to stress at the level of the DNA is DNA methylation which is one type of epigenetic process that influences gene expression by activating or inhibiting transcription. This chapter will outline the current literature of stress-induced DNA methylation and gene expression changes in animal models and human studies. We will describe timing-specific stress-induced biological changes, mechanism of transgenerational transmission of epigenetic marks, and finally identify the limitations of current research, gaps in current research, and future directions.