
==== Front
Curr Neuropharmacol
Curr Neuropharmacol
CN
Current Neuropharmacology
1570-159X
1875-6190
Bentham Science Publishers

38284336
CN-22-808
10.2174/1570159X2205231107115145
Medicine, Neurology, Pharmacology, Neuroscience
Thematic Selection: Stress and Stress-related Disorders Neurobiology & Translational Aspects of Stress-related Disorders (Part 3)
Agorastos Agorastos 1*
1 Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece
* Address correspondence to this author at the Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece; E-mail: aagorast@auth.gr
07 11 2023
2024
22 5 808809
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers
2024
The Author(s)
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Bentham Science Publishers. This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode.
==== Body
pmc   Optimal neuroendocrine coordination of the stress system and its reactivity is essential to survival, proper development, health, and well-being. Acute and chronic stress exposure can disrupt optimal neuroendocrine reactivity and has been implicated as a major downstream pathway of biological, emotional, and behavioural vulnerability, thus, mediating a repeatedly well-documented higher risk for mental and physical (co-)morbidity [1, 2]. However, there is still little recognition of the importance of stress-system neuroendocrinology within most medical disciplines, and only a few stress-system-related implications flow into research and clinical practice. Novel approaches are needed for the proper understanding, neuroendocrine assessment, and efficacious management of stress system dysregulation in both mental and physical stress-related disorders, especially in view of the particular challenges of the evolving new lifestyle of modern societies [3].

   This current issue (Part 3) of the special thematic selection entitled “Stress and Stress-related Disorders” handles a comprehensive collection of nine articles on neurobiological and translational aspects of stress research.

   In two clinically relevant reviews, Su et al. provided an interesting overview of prospective clinical trials on promising novel anti-inflammatory strategies for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) [4], while Menke reviewed promising study results of MDD treatment alternatives targeting the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, such as corticotrophin-releasing hormone 1, vasopressin V1B and glucocorticoid receptor antagonists as well as FKBP5 antagonists [5].

   Another five articles focus on molecular pathophysiological pathways in the development of stress-related disorders. In an exceptional review, Ell et al. provide available animal and human findings on epigenetics with respect to fear, anxiety, and stress-related states with an emphasis on histone modifications [6]. Kyriatzis et al. review current findings on the involvement of the neurotensinergic system in stress response and the pathophysiology of stress-related disorders, with an emphasis on gene, mRNA, and protein alterations, behavioral and pharmacological studies and therapeutic implementations [7]. Providing insights from mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomic studies in rodent models, Papageorgiou et al. investigate affected molecular pathways upon stress exposure and provide insightful information on stress-induced systemic changes in the brain and the periphery [8]. The review article by MacKay et al. focuses on the role of the gut-immune-brain axis, the human microbiome and the therapeutic potential of pro and prebiotics in stress-related disorders [9]. Finally, Lochner et al. conducted a systematic review on post-mortem brain tissue studies to provide an overview of quantitative and qualitative studies on DNA methylation, cellular and molecular alterations, and gene expression profiling in brain areas associated with OCD [10].

   The last two articles have focused on stress-related functional and structural imaging studies. Paltoglou et al. offer an overview of functional MRI and functional connectivity analysis studies, which support the coordination of the stress response by three main dynamic networks [11]. On the other hand, Cardoner et al. provide an overview of structural imaging studies investigating the impact of stress on brain morphology [12].

   All these articles provide most intriguing insights in stress-related biological mechanisms. Further understanding of pathways susceptible to disruption following acute and chronic stress exposure could help us better identify the pathophysiologic trajectories that link stress to multilevel biological changes but also develop new translational diagnostic approaches as well as novel, neurobiology-driven treatments.
==== Refs
REFERENCES

1 Chrousos G.P. Kino T. Glucocorticoid signaling in the cell. Expanding clinical implications to complex human behavioral and somatic disorders. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 2009 1179 1 153 166 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04988.x 19906238
2 Cohen S. Janicki-Deverts D. Miller G.E. Psychological stress and disease. JAMA 2007 298 14 1685 1687 10.1001/jama.298.14.1685 17925521
3 Agorastos A. Chrousos G.P. The neuroendocrinology of stress: the stress-related continuum of chronic disease development. Mol. Psychiatry 2022 27 1 502 513 10.1038/s41380-021-01224-9 34290370
4 Su W.J. Hu T. Jiang C.L. Cool the inflamed brain: A novel anti-inflammatory strategy for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 810 842 37559243
5 Menke A. The HPA axis as target for depression. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 904 915 10.2174/1570159X21666230811141557 37581323
6 Ell M.A. Schiele M.A. Iovino N. Domschke K. Epigenetics of fear, anxiety and stress - focus on histone modifications. Curr Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 843 865 10.2174/1570159X21666230322154158 36946487
7 Kyriatzis G. Khrestchatisky M. Ferhat L. Chatzaki E.A. Neurotensin and neurotensin receptors in stress-related disorders: Pathophysiology & novel drug targets. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 916 934 37534788
8 Papageorgiou M.P. Theodoridou D. Nussbaumer M. Syrrou M. Filiou M.D. Deciphering the metabolome under stress: Insights from rodent models. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 884 903 10.2174/1570159X21666230713094843 37448366
9 MacKay M. Yang B.H. Dursun S.M. Baker G.B. The gut-brain axis and the microbiome in anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 866 883 10.2174/1570159X21666230222092029 36815632
10 Lochner C. Naudé P.J.W. Stein D.J. Use of post-mortem brain tissue in investigations of obsessive- compulsive disorder: A systematic review. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 963 975 37644747
11 Paltoglou G. Stefanaki C. Chrousos G.P. Functional MRI techniques suggesting that the stress system interacts with three large scale core brain networks to help coordinate the adaptive response: A systematic review. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 976 989 37533249
12 Cardoner N. Andero R. Cano M. Marin-Blasco I. Porta-Casteras D. Serra-Blasco M. Via E. Vicent-Gil M. Portella M. Impact of stress on brain morphology: Insights into structural biomarkers of stress-related disorders. Curr. Neuropharmacol. 2024 22 5 935 962 10.2174/1570159X21666230703091435 37403395
