Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and mental illness: An epigenetic approach

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the neurotrophins implicated in the impaired synaptic plasticity associated with brain disorders. Recent evidence indicates that epigenetic mechanisms, such as chromatin remodeling via histone acetylation and DNA methylation, may play an important role in the regulation of gene expression, including that of bdnf, in the brain. This review takes a comprehensive approach in discussing the role of epigenetics in the regulation of bdnf expression in the brain during various CNS disorders, such as cognitive, psychiatric, and addictive behaviors.