Epigenetic mechanisms in developmental neurotoxicity

The constant interplay between environment (including both exogenous and endogenous factors) and epigenome (defined as the combination of chromatin, its covalent modifications and noncoding RNAs) triggers epigenetic events that, by modulating gene expression, capture information about changes in the environment. In this mini review, we will focus on the neurodevelopmental implications of exposure to adverse prenatal milieu with emphasis on mechanistic and functional aspects. Several neurotoxic insults have been shown to affect epigenetics with negative consequences on the development of the nervous system; among them are methylmercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium, as well as excess of glucocorticoids. Further investigations on the individual susceptibility to epigenetic changes are needed to propose and validate such modifications as possible biomarkers for early identification of neurological/neurodevelopmental disorders and for predicting/monitoring response to treatment.