Genetic and Molecular Mechanisms of Emotional Stress: Inflammatory Signaling and Apoptotic Pathways

Abstract

Abstract

Emotional stress is a psychological and physiological condition associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. Chronic emotional stress has been linked to psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. This review summarizes the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying emotional stress, focusing on inflammatory signaling and apoptotic pathways. Literature was obtained from PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect using keywords related to emotional stress, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, with studies published between 2021 and 2026 prioritized. Chronic emotional stress activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system, resulting in increased glucocorticoid secretion and immune dysregulation. Persistent stress exposure promotes the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β through NF-κB activation. Furthermore, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction induce apoptotic regulators including Bax, caspases, and p53 while suppressing Bcl-2 expression. Epigenetic modifications and genetic polymorphisms also contribute to individual susceptibility to stress-related disorders. Overall, inflammatory signaling and apoptosis are closely interconnected in the pathophysiology of emotional stress and may represent potential therapeutic targets.

Keywords: Emotional stress, inflammatory signaling, apoptosis, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation.