Acute stress induces changes in epigenome-wide DNA methylation.

ABSTRACT: Stress plays a significant role in the development of mental and somatic disorders by dysregulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly DNA methylation (DNAm), are assumed to mediate this relationship, with increasing evidence linking stress experience to DNAm changes, though the longitudinal effects of acute stress remain unclear. Here, 122 healthy individuals underwent the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST). Salivary samples for cortisol measurements were taken at seven time points from before to 45 min after stress induction, and blood was drawn for DNAm analyses before and 45 min after. Cortisol reactivity was predicted by baseline DNAm using robust linear models, and a mixed linear model was performed to investigate DNAm changes over tim

SUBMITTER: Zillich L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12932828 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature