Interplay and intervention of epigenetic dysregulation in traumatic brain injury pathology

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurs when an external mechanical force damages brain tissue, leading to temporary or lasting disturbances in brain structure and function. The heterogeneous molecular and phenotypic nature of TBI poses a major challenge to translating basic research discoveries into clinically effective interventions. Emerging evidence indicates that epigenetic and epitranscriptomic mechanisms, including histone modifications, DNA methylation, and RNA modifications, play pivotal roles in the molecular response to TBI. In this review, we discuss post-TBI epigenomic alterations with a focus on histone modifications, DNA methylation, and RNA modifications, and we highlight preclinical interventions that modulate these alterations and improve related post-TBI behavioral outcomes.