Cross-Tissue Epigenomic Convergence in Trauma- and Substance-Related Disorders

Trauma exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders can produce lasting changes in gene regulation. These changes may influence stress responses, immune activity, neural function, and vulnerability to disease. Epigenomic evidence can be generated from many biological sources, including peripheral samples, biofluids, tissue specimens, and cell-specific datasets.Epigenome-wide studies have identified associations with DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation, and other regulatory marks. Yet findings are often limited to one cohort, one biological source, or one molecular layer. Studies rarely test whether a signal is shared, distinct, or biologically connected across tissues, cell populations, species, and independent datasets. This makes it harder to separate robust mechanisms from context-specific observations.This Research Topic will bring together research that identifies, compares, and interprets epigenomic signatures across relevant biological contexts in trauma- and substance-related disorders. It welcomes work that links epigenomic evidence with molecular, clinical, behavioural, and environmental data. The aim is to clarify shared and disorder-specific mechanisms, and to identify priorities for functional follow-up and therapeutic development.To gather further insights into cross-tissue epigenomic convergence in trauma- and substance-related disorders, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation, and other epigenomic marks measured in blood, saliva, other biofluids, peripheral tissues, postmortem tissue, or cell-specific samples• Cross-tissue and cross-context analyses that test the concordance, divergence, or biological relevance of epigenomic signatures• Epigenomic mechanisms in trauma exposure, PTSD and substance use disorders, as well as related trauma- or stress-associated psychiatric phenotypes, including depression, anxiety and suicidality, where studies examine adversity-related mechanisms or enable comparison across disorders.• Human, animal, and experimental-model studies that connect exposure, gene regulation, and disease-relevant phenotypes• Replication, meta-analysis, and population diversity in epigenome-wide association studies• Integration of epigenomic findings with transcriptomic, proteomic, immune, inflammatory, clinical, behavioural, or environmental data• Computational methods for harmonising datasets, identifying convergent signatures, prioritising targets for functional validation, and informing therapeutic or drug-repurposing studiesWe welcome Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Reviews, Mini Reviews and Perspectives. Topic editors: Sheila Tiemi Nagamatsu, Lan Xiong, Xuemei Zong Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86079/cross-tissue-epigenomic-convergence-in-trauma--and-substance-related-disorders