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Taylor GT, McQueen A, Eastwood JR, Dupoué A, Wong BBM, Verhulst S, Peters A. No effect of testosterone or sexual ornamentation on telomere dynamics: A case study and meta-analyses. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11088. [PMID: 38435019 PMCID: PMC10905238 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Life-history theory predicts that reproductive investments are traded-off against self-maintenance. Telomeres, the protective caps on the ends of chromosomes, offer a promising avenue for assessing life-history trade-offs, as they shorten in response to stressors and are predictive of the remaining lifespan. In males, testosterone frequently mediates life-history trade-offs, in part, through its effects on sexual ornamentation, which is an important aspect of reproductive investment. However, studies of within-individual associations between telomere dynamics and sexual ornamentation are limited in number and have produced mixed results. Furthermore, most such studies have been observational, making it difficult to discern the nature of any causal relationship. To address this, we used short-acting testosterone implants in free-living male superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) to stimulate the production of a sexual ornament: early moult into a costly blue breeding plumage. We found no evidence that elevated testosterone, and the consequent earlier moult into breeding plumage, accelerated telomere shortening. We therefore followed up with a systematic review and two meta-analyses (28 studies, 54 effect sizes) exploring the associations between telomeres and (1) testosterone and (2) sexual ornamentation. In line with our experimental findings, neither meta-analysis showed an overall correlation of testosterone or sexual ornamentation with telomere length or telomere dynamics. However, meta-regression showed that experimental, compared to observational, studies reported greater evidence of trade-offs. Our meta-analyses highlight the need for further experimental studies to better understand potential responses of telomere length or telomere dynamics to testosterone or sexual ornamentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory T. Taylor
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alexandra McQueen
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
Centre for Integrative EcologyDeakin UniversityBurwoodVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Andréaz Dupoué
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
- Present address:
CNRS Sorbonne Université, UMR 7618, iEES ParisUniversité Pierre et Marie CurieParisFrance
| | - Bob B. M. Wong
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
| | - Simon Verhulst
- Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life SciencesUniversity of GroningenGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Anne Peters
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVictoriaAustralia
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Francis M, Lindrose A, O'Connell S, Tristano RI, McGarvey C, Drury S. The interaction of socioeconomic stress and race on telomere length in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SSM Popul Health 2023; 22:101380. [PMID: 37065841 PMCID: PMC10102414 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale Proposed mechanisms relating early life exposures to poor health suggest that biologic indicators of risk are observable in childhood. Telomere length (TL) is a biomarker of aging, psychosocial stress, and a range of environmental exposures. In adults, exposure to early life adversity, including low socioeconomic status (SES), is predictive of shorter TL. However, results in pediatric populations have been mixed. Defining the true relation between TL and SES in childhood is expected to enhance the understanding of the biological pathways through which socioeconomic factors influence health across the life span. Objective The aim of this meta-analysis was to systematically review and quantitatively assess the published literature to better understand how SES, race, and TL are related in pediatric populations. Methods Studies in the United States in any pediatric population with any measure of SES were included and identified through the following electronic databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Medline, Socindex, CINAHL, and Psychinfo. Analysis utilized a multi-level random-effects meta-analysis accounting for multiple effect sizes within a study. Results Thirty-two studies were included with a total of 78 effect sizes that were categorized into income-based, education-based, and composite indicators. Only three studies directly tested the relation between SES and TL as the primary study aim. In the full model, there was a significant relation between SES and TL (r = 0.0220 p = 0.0286). Analysis by type of SES categorization identified a significant moderating effect of income on TL (r = 0.0480, 95% CI: 0.0155 to 0.0802, p = 0.0045) but no significant effect for education or composite SES. Conclusions There is an overall association between SES and TL that is predominately due to the association with income-based SES measures implicating income disparities as a key target for efforts to address health inequity across the life span. Identification of associations between family income and biological changes in children that predict life-span health risk provides key data to support public health policies addressing economic inequality in families and presents a unique opportunity to assess the effect of prevention efforts at the biologic level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariza Francis
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Alyssa Lindrose
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Samantha O'Connell
- Office of Academic Affairs and Provost, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Renee I. Tristano
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | - Cecile McGarvey
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Stacy Drury
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
- Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Tulane Brain Institute and School of Science and Engineering, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA, USA
- Corresponding author. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA.
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Rodgers EL, Kuhlman KR. Early life adversity is associated with attenuated testosterone reactivity to acute stress among adolescents. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2023; 153:106087. [PMID: 37019055 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how testosterone responds to stress or challenge may be integral to uncovering biological pathways to potentially harmful behaviors like aggression. Yet, studies investigating patterns of testosterone reactivity under stress within adolescent populations are limited. Among those conducted, even fewer have investigated environmental factors which may shape such patterns. Exposure to early life adversity (ELA) has been shown to influence other biological markers of stress reactivity, though how it may be associated with alterations in testosterone reactivity remains underexplored. The current study addresses these gaps by examining salivary testosterone concentrations across the administration of a Trier Social Stress Test for Children in a sample of 87 adolescents (46.4% female, Mage = 13.91 years, SDage = 1.57). The current study tested two central hypotheses: (1) that testosterone would rise in response to a standardized laboratory stressor, and (2) that greater ELA would be associated with higher baseline (or, pre-stress) testosterone scores and a dampened testosterone response to stress. Adolescents in the current sample showed a robust increase in testosterone following administration of the TSST-C, supporting the limited previous findings which indicate testosterone does mount an acute stress response in adolescents. Contrary to hypotheses, ELA was not associated with significant elevations in baseline testosterone scores. However, ELA was associated with dampened testosterone reactivity, even after controlling for important demographic and biological factors. Methodological implications, including considerations for researchers aiming to capture an acute testosterone response, as well as how our understanding of ELA's role in adolescent biological functioning is extended by our findings regarding testosterone, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Louise Rodgers
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, United States.
| | - Kate Ryan Kuhlman
- Department of Psychological Science, University of California, Irvine, United States; Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California Los Angeles, United States; Institute for Interdisciplinary Salivary Bioscience Research, School of Social Ecology, University of California, Irvine, United States
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4
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Heidinger BJ, Slowinski SP, Sirman AE, Kittilson J, Gerlach NM, Ketterson ED. Experimentally elevated testosterone shortens telomeres across years in a free-living songbird. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:6216-6223. [PMID: 33503312 DOI: 10.1111/mec.15819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive investment often comes at a cost to longevity, but the mechanisms that underlie these long-term effects are not well understood. In male vertebrates, elevated testosterone has been shown to increase reproductive success, but simultaneously to decrease survival. One factor that may contribute to or serve as a biomarker of these long-term effects of testosterone on longevity is telomeres, which are often positively related to lifespan and have been shown to shorten in response to reproduction. In this longitudinal study, we measured the effects of experimentally elevated testosterone on telomere shortening in free-living, male dark-eyed juncos (Junco hyemalis carolinensis), a system in which the experimental elevation of testosterone has previously been shown to increase reproductive success and reduce survival. We found a small, significant effect of testosterone treatment on telomeres, with testosterone-treated males exhibiting significantly greater telomere shortening with age than controls. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased telomere shortening may be a long-term cost of elevated testosterone exposure. As both testosterone and telomeres are conserved physiological mechanisms, our results suggest that their interaction may apply broadly to the long-term costs of reproduction in male vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt J Heidinger
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | | | - Aubrey E Sirman
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Jeffrey Kittilson
- Biological Sciences Department, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA
| | - Nicole M Gerlach
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Sexual Dimorphism in Telomere Length in Childhood Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 2022; 53:2050-2061. [PMID: 35220523 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05486-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are strikingly more prevalent in males, but the molecular mechanisms responsible for ASD sex-differential risk are poorly understood. Abnormally shorter telomeres have been associated with autism. Examination of relative telomere lengths (RTL) among non-syndromic male (N = 14) and female (N = 10) children with autism revealed that only autistic male children had significantly shorter RTL than typically-developing controls (N = 24) and paired siblings (N = 10). While average RTL of autistic girls did not differ significantly from controls, it was substantially longer than autistic boys. Our findings indicate a sexually-dimorphic pattern of RTL in childhood autism and could have important implications for RTL as a potential biomarker and the role/s of telomeres in the molecular mechanisms responsible for ASD sex-biased prevalence and etiology.
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Heinze-Milne SD, Banga S, Godin J, Howlett SE. Serum Testosterone Concentrations are not Associated with Frailty in Naturally Ageing and Testosterone-Deficient Older C57Bl/6 Mice. Mech Ageing Dev 2022; 203:111638. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2022.111638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Criscuolo F, Torres R, Zahn S, Williams TD. Telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity and maternal effects in the 'multivariate egg'. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb232496. [PMID: 33139395 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.232496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Avian eggs contain a large number of molecules deposited by the mother that provide the embryo with energy but also potentially influence its development via the effects of maternally derived hormones and antibodies: the avian egg is thus 'multivariate'. Multivariate effects on offspring phenotype were evaluated in a study on captive zebra finches, by simultaneously manipulating maternally derived antibodies (MAb) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment of mothers and injection of testosterone into the egg yolk. LPS treatment had a positive effect on body mass growth at 30 days after hatching and immune response at sexual maturity, while egg testosterone treatment positively influenced immune response at fledging and courtship behaviour in sexually mature male offspring. Maternal effects are known to modulate offspring telomere length (TL). However, the multivariate effects of egg-derived maternal components on offspring telomere dynamics from hatching to sexual maturity are undefined. Here, we tested: (1) the effects of LPS and testosterone treatments on TL from hatching to sexual maturity (day 82); (2) how LPS treatment modulated TL over reproduction in adult females; and (3) the relationship between maternal and offspring TL. We predicted that TL would be shorter in LPS fledglings (as a cost of faster growth) and that TL would be longer in sexually mature adults after yolk testosterone treatment (as a proxy of individual quality). In adult females, there was an overall negative relationship between laying and rearing investments and TL, this relationship was weaker in LPS-treated females. In chicks, there was an overall negative effect of LPS treatment on TL measured at fledging and sexual maturity (day 25-82). In addition, at fledging, there was a Sex×LPS×Testosterone interaction, suggesting the existence of antagonistic effects of our treatments. Our data partially support the hypothesis that telomeres are proxies of individual quality and that individual differences in TL are established very early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francois Criscuolo
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Roxanna Torres
- Instituto de Ecologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, A.P. 70-275, Mexico D.F. 04510, Mexico
| | - Sandrine Zahn
- University of Strasbourg, CNRS, Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR 7178, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Tony D Williams
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, Canada V5A 1S6
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Furtado CLM, Iannetta R, Ferriani RA, Rosa E Silva ACJS, Martinelli CE, Calado RT, Dos Reis RM. Telomere length is not altered in girls with idiopathic central precocious puberty treated with a GnRH analog - leuprolide acetate. Gynecol Endocrinol 2020; 36:1119-1123. [PMID: 32496827 DOI: 10.1080/09513590.2020.1770212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Idiopathic central precocious puberty (iCPP) presents a disproportionate advancement of bone age and maturation, as well as metabolic and endocrinological changes that may be related to effects on telomere biology. OBJECTIVE To investigate the telomere length in iCPP girls treated with GnRHa. STUDY DESIGN Observational case-control study with 85 girls, including 45 iCPP treated with GnRHa and 40 controls. It was analyzed age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI), insulin, triglycerides, testosterone, insulin resistance by HOMA, and telomere length by real-time PCR. Statistical analyses were determined by Wilcoxon test and Spearman correlation was carried out. RESULTS Weight, BMI, insulin level and HOMA index were higher in the iCPP than in the control group (p < .01); without difference between mean ages. The telomere length did not differ between iCPP and control group. However, a negative correlation was observed between the telomere length and age in iCPP (p = .0009) and control group (p = .014), and weight in the iCPP (p = .017). CONCLUSIONS We did not observe any difference in the telomere length in the iCPP and control group. Even though, some characteristics of the disease, such as increased weight and body fat, negatively influence the telomere biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiana Libardi Miranda Furtado
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
- Drug Research and Development Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical and Surgical Sciences, Federal University of Ceara, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Renata Iannetta
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rui Alberto Ferriani
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina J S Rosa E Silva
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo Tocantins Calado
- Department of Medical Images, Hematology and Clinical Oncology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rosana Maria Dos Reis
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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9
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Mehrsafar AH, Serrano Rosa MA, Moghadam Zadeh A, Gazerani P. Stress, Professional Lifestyle, and Telomere Biology in Elite Athletes: A Growing Trend in Psychophysiology of Sport. Front Psychol 2020; 11:567214. [PMID: 33250812 PMCID: PMC7673416 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.567214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Professional lifestyle and championship period often put a great deal of pressure on athletes, who usually experience highly stressful periods during training for competitions. Recently, biomarkers of cellular aging, telomere length (TL) and telomerase activity (TA), have been considered to investigate the effects of stress and lifestyle factors. Studies in non-athletic populations have shown that stress and poor lifestyle decrease TL and TA. On the other hand, it has been shown that in general, exercise increases TL and its activity, although the underlying mechanisms remained largely unexplored. TL and TA outcomes in elite athletes remain inconclusive and mainly affected by confounding factors, such as age. Elite athletes, therefore, might offer a unique target group for studying exercise-telomere hypothesis for further investigation of the roles of stressors on telomere-related biomarkers. In this perspective, we highlight the potentials for studying these psychophysiological markers in elite athletes in order to understand stress-aging relationship and potential underlying mechanisms. Moreover, we present important methodological aspects that could help in the development of future experimental designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Hossien Mehrsafar
- Department of Sport Psychology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Miguel Angel Serrano Rosa
- Department of Psychobiology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Laboratory of Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, Faculty of Psychology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Ali Moghadam Zadeh
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology and Education, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Gazerani
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark
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10
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Barch DM, Shirtcliff EA, Elsayed NM, Whalen D, Gilbert K, Vogel AC, Tillman R, Luby JL. Testosterone and hippocampal trajectories mediate relationship of poverty to emotion dysregulation and depression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:22015-22023. [PMID: 32839328 PMCID: PMC7486761 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2004363117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is robust evidence that early poverty is associated with poor developmental outcomes, including impaired emotion regulation and depression. However, the specific mechanisms that mediate this risk are less clear. Here we test the hypothesis that one pathway involves hormone mechanisms (testosterone and DHEA) that contribute to disruption of hippocampal brain development, which in turn contributes to perturbed emotion regulation and subsequent risk for depression. To do so, we used data from 167 children participating in the Preschool Depression Study, a longitudinal study that followed children from preschool (ages 3 to 5 y) to late adolescence, and which includes prospective assessments of poverty in preschool, measures of testosterone, DHEA, and hippocampal volume across school age and adolescence, and measures of emotion regulation and depression in adolescence. Using multilevel modeling and linear regression, we found that early poverty predicted shallower increases of testosterone, but not DHEA, across development, which in turn predicted shallower trajectories of hippocampal development. Further, we found that early poverty predicted both impaired emotion regulation and depression. The relationship between early poverty and self-reported depression in adolescence was explained by serial mediation through testosterone to hippocampus to emotion dysregulation. There were no significant interactions with sex. These results provide evidence about a hormonal pathway by which early poverty may contribute to disrupted brain development and risk for mental health problems later in life. Identification of such pathways provide evidence for potential points of intervention that might help mitigate the impact of early adversity on brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deanna M Barch
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130;
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
- Department of Radiology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | | | - Nourhan M Elsayed
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Diana Whalen
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Kirsten Gilbert
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Alecia C Vogel
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Rebecca Tillman
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
| | - Joan L Luby
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
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11
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Phan JM, Van Hulle CA, Shirtcliff EA, Schmidt NL, Goldsmith HH. Longitudinal effects of family psychopathology and stress on pubertal maturation and hormone coupling in adolescent twins. Dev Psychobiol 2020; 63:512-528. [PMID: 32862448 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Adolescents experience profound neuroendocrine changes, including hormone "coupling" between cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone. Emerging research has only begun to elucidate the role of hormone coupling, its genetic and environmental etiology, and the extent to which coupling is impacted by gender, puberty, and family context. We included measures on parent and child mental health, parenting stress, and family conflict of 444 twin pairs and their parents across two timepoints, when youth were on average 8 and 13 years old, respectively. Structural equation models examined the impact of family context effects on coupling during adolescence. Biometric twin models were then used to probe additive genetic, shared, and non-shared environmental effects on hormone coupling. Hormones were more tightly coupled for females than males, and coupling was sensitive to parental depression and co-twin psychopathology symptoms and stress exposure in females. The association between family context and coupling varied across specific neuroendocrine measures and was largely distinct from pubertal maturation. Biometric models revealed robust shared and non-shared environmental influences on coupling. We found that family antecedents modify the strength of coupling. Environmental influences account for much of the variation on coupling during puberty. Gender differences were found in genetic influences on coupling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny M Phan
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA.,Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A Shirtcliff
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Nicole L Schmidt
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - H Hill Goldsmith
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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12
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Early Puberty and Telomere Length in Preadolescent Girls and Mothers. J Pediatr 2020; 222:193-199.e5. [PMID: 32586523 PMCID: PMC7405936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2020.02.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 01/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the association between early puberty and telomere length in preadolescent girls and mothers from a large representative sample of US females. STUDY DESIGN We analyzed data from 1194 preadolescent girls and 2421 mothers from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Participants were from a population-based birth cohort (1998-2000) born in large US cities. Telomere length was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction from saliva samples provided by preadolescent girls and mothers of preadolescent youth. Mothers completed a questionnaire about their child's pubertal development to determine concurrent Tanner stages and provided self-reports of her own age at menarche. Linear regression models were used to estimate the association between pubertal development (status and timing) and telomere length. RESULTS Early pubertal timing but not pubertal status was associated with shorter telomere length in preadolescent girls (P < .01). Early age at menarche was associated with shorter telomere length in a sample of mothers of preadolescent youth (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS Results provide evidence for the association between early puberty and shorter telomeres evidenced by associations in both preadolescent girls and mothers. Future research should address the limitations of this study by using longitudinal measurements of pubertal development assessed through medical examinations and repeated assessments of telomere length to capture telomere attrition.
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Gaydosh L, Mitchell C, Notterman D, Schneper L, Brooks-Gunn J, Wagner B, Koss K, McLanahan S. Demographic and developmental patterns in telomere length across adolescence. BIODEMOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL BIOLOGY 2020; 66:208-219. [PMID: 34597213 PMCID: PMC8702463 DOI: 10.1080/19485565.2021.1983758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Telomere length is often used in studies of adults as a biomarker of cellular aging and an indicator of stress exposure. However, we know little about how telomeres change over time, particularly over the course of the important developmental period of adolescence. We use data on telomere length collected at two points in time spanning adolescence (Years 9 and 15) from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study to examine longitudinal patterns (n = 1,654) in telomere length. We find a quantitatively small but significant average lengthening in telomere length across adolescence and little evidence of associations between telomere length and pubertal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Gaydosh
- Department of Sociology and Population Research Center, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Colter Mitchell
- Institute for Social Research and Department of Sociology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Daniel Notterman
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jeanne Brooks-Gunn
- Teachers College and the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brandon Wagner
- Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
- Department of Sociology and School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kalsea Koss
- Human Development and Family Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Sara McLanahan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, USA
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White SF, Lee Y, Schlund MW, Shirtcliff EA, Ladouceur CD. Testosterone reactivity is associated with reduced neural response to reward in early adolescence. Behav Brain Res 2020; 387:112593. [PMID: 32194193 PMCID: PMC7214194 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The marked increase in adolescent reward-seeking behavior has important implications for adaptive and maladaptive development. Reward-seeking is linked to increased testosterone and increased neural responses to reward cues. How acute testosterone changes modulate neural reward systems remains unclear. Based on previous work, adolescents, particularly males, showing an increase in endogenous testosterone reactivity were hypothesized to show increased neural response to reward in ventromedial prefrontal cortex, ventral striatum, and posterior cingulate cortex. Sixty-one healthy adolescents aged 10-13 (38 female, mean age = 12.01 [SD = 1.00]) completed a reward-cue processing task during fMRI. Saliva samples to be assayed for testosterone were collected immediately before and after scanning. Acute testosterone changes were not associated with variation in behavioral performance. Within ventromedial prefrontal and posterior cingulate cortices, increased acute testosterone change was associated with reduced discrimination between rewarded and un-rewarded trials. Results suggest that increasing levels of testosterone may result in reduced attention to/salience of task irrelevant information. In contrast to previous studies that found a positive association between testosterone and neural response to reward, the reward information in the current paradigm was irrelevant to success in task performance. These results are consistent with theoretical conceptualization of testosterone's role in reproduction, which involves a shift in salience to short-term relative to long-term goals. These data further emphasized the need to consider context in the study of hormones; specific behaviors will be up- or down-regulated by a hormone based on the fit of the behavior with the broader contextual goal being orchestrated by the hormone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart F White
- Boys Town National Research Hospital, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010 United States
| | - Yoojin Lee
- Human Development & Family Studies, Iowa State University, 2222 Osborn Dr., Ames, IA 50011 United States
| | - Michael W Schlund
- Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, 140 Decateur Street, Atlanta, GA 30303 United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 United States
| | - Elizabeth A Shirtcliff
- Human Development & Family Studies, Iowa State University, 2222 Osborn Dr., Ames, IA 50011 United States
| | - Cecile D Ladouceur
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, 3811 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh, PA 15213 United States.
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15
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Esteves KC, Jones CW, Wade M, Callerame K, Smith AK, Theall KP, Drury SS. Adverse Childhood Experiences: Implications for Offspring Telomere Length and Psychopathology. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:47-57. [PMID: 31509004 PMCID: PMC7273739 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2019.18030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with mental and physical health risks that, through biological and psychosocial pathways, likely span generations. Within an individual, telomere length (TL), an established marker of cellular stress and aging, is associated with both ACE exposure and psychopathology, providing the basis for an emerging literature suggesting that TL is a biomarker of the health risks linked to early-life adversity both within and across generations. The authors tested the effect of maternal ACEs on both the trajectory of infant TL and infant social-emotional problems at 18 months of age. METHODS Pregnant women were recruited, and maternal scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire were obtained, along with demographic and prenatal stress measures. Postnatal visits with 155 mother-infant dyads occurred when infants were 4, 12, and 18 months of age. At each visit, infant buccal swabs were collected for TL measurement, and mothers completed measures of maternal depression. Mothers also completed the Child Behavior Checklist at the 18-month visit. Mixed-effects modeling was used to test how maternal ACEs influenced infant TL trajectory. Linear regression was used to test the association between maternal ACEs and infant internalizing and externalizing behaviors. Finally, the interaction between telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months and maternal ACEs was examined as a predictor of infant scores on the Child Behavior Checklist. RESULTS Higher maternal ACEs were associated with shorter infant TL across infancy and higher infant externalizing behavioral problems at 18 months. No associations were found with internalizing behavioral problems. Telomere attrition from 4 to 18 months interacted with maternal ACEs to predict externalizing behaviors. In infants whose mothers reported higher scores on the Adverse Childhood Experience questionnaire, greater telomere attrition predicted higher externalizing problems, even when accounting for maternal postnatal depression and prenatal stress. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate an interactive pathway between maternal early-life adversity and infant TL that predicts emerging behavioral problems in the next generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle C Esteves
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Christopher W Jones
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Mark Wade
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Keegan Callerame
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Alicia K Smith
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Katherine P Theall
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
| | - Stacy S Drury
- The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans (Esteves, Drury); the Department of Neuroscience, Tulane Brain Institute, Tulane University, New Orleans (Jones, Drury); the Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto (Wade); the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans (Callerame); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Emory University, Atlanta (Smith); and the Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans (Theall)
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Muneer A, Minhas FA. Telomere Biology in Mood Disorders: An Updated, Comprehensive Review of the Literature. CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE 2019; 17:343-363. [PMID: 31352701 PMCID: PMC6705109 DOI: 10.9758/cpn.2019.17.3.343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Major psychiatric disorders are linked to early mortality and patients afflicted with these ailments demonstrate an increased risk of developing physical diseases that are characteristically seen in the elderly. Psychiatric conditions like major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia may be associated with accelerated cellular aging, indicated by shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which could underlie this connection. Telomere shortening occurs with repeated cell division and is reflective of a cell’s mitotic history. It is also influenced by cumulative exposure to inflammation and oxidative stress as well as the availability of telomerase, the telomere-lengthening enzyme. Precariously short telomeres can cause cells to undergo senescence, apoptosis or genomic instability; shorter LTL correlates with compromised general health and foretells mortality. Important data specify that LTL may be reduced in principal psychiatric illnesses, possibly in proportion to exposure to the ailment. Telomerase, as measured in peripheral blood monocytes, has been less well characterized in psychiatric illnesses, but a role in mood disorder has been suggested by preclinical and clinical studies. In this manuscript, the most recent studies on LTL and telomerase activity in mood disorders are comprehensively reviewed, potential mediators are discussed, and future directions are suggested. An enhanced comprehension of cellular aging in psychiatric illnesses could lead to their re-conceptualizing as systemic ailments with manifestations both inside and outside the brain. At the same time this paradigm shift could identify new treatment targets, helpful in bringing about lasting cures to innumerable sufferers across the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ather Muneer
- Department of Psychiatry, Islamic International Medical College, Riphah International University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | - Fareed Aslam Minhas
- Department of Psychiatry, WHO Collaborating Center, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
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17
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Kalungi A, Womersley JS, Kinyanda E, Joloba ML, Ssembajjwe W, Nsubuga RN, Levin J, Kaleebu P, Kidd M, Seedat S, Hemmings SMJ. Internalizing Mental Disorders and Accelerated Cellular Aging Among Perinatally HIV-Infected Youth in Uganda. Front Genet 2019; 10:705. [PMID: 31428136 PMCID: PMC6688656 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Internalizing mental disorders (IMDs) in HIV+ children and adolescents are associated with impaired quality of life and non-adherence to anti-retroviral treatment. Telomere length is a biomarker of cellular aging, and shorter telomere length has been associated with IMDs. However, the nature of this association has yet to be elucidated. Objective: We determined the longitudinal association between IMDs and relative telomere length (rTL) and the influence of chronic stress among Ugandan perinatally HIV-infected youth (PHIY). Methods: IMDs (depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and post-traumatic stress disorder) and IMDs were assessed using the locally adapted Child and Adolescent Symptom Inventory-5. In 368 PHIY with any IMD and 368 age- and sex-matched PHIY controls without any psychiatric disorder, rTL was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to generate the three chronic stress classes (mild, moderate, and severe). t-tests were used to assess the difference between baseline and 12 month rTL and the mean difference in rTL between cases and controls both at baseline and at 12 months. Linear regression analysis was used to model the effects of chronic stress on the association between IMDs and rTL, controlling for age and sex. Results: We observed longer rTL among cases of IMDs compared with controls (p < 0.001). We also observed a statistically significant reduction in rTL between baseline and 12 months in the combined sample of cases and controls (p < 0.001). The same statistical difference was observed when cases and controls were individually analyzed (p < 0.001). We found no significant difference in rTL between cases and controls at 12 months (p = 0.117). We found no significant influence of chronic stress on the association between IMDs and rTL at both baseline and 12 months. Conclusion: rTL is longer among cases of IMDs compared with age- and sex-matched controls. We observed a significant attrition in rTL over 12 months, which seems to be driven by the presence of any IMDs. There is a need for future longitudinal and experimental studies to understand the mechanisms driving our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan Kalungi
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.,Mental Health Project, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.,Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Eugene Kinyanda
- Mental Health Project, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.,Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Moses L Joloba
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.,School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Wilber Ssembajjwe
- Mental Health Project, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda.,Statistics and Data Science Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Rebecca N Nsubuga
- Statistics and Data Science Section, MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Jonathan Levin
- School of Public Health, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Martin Kidd
- Centre for Statistical Consultation, Department of Statistics and Actuarial Sciences University of Stellenbosch, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Soraya Seedat
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Sian M J Hemmings
- Department of Psychiatry, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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18
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19
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Willis M, Reid SN, Calvo E, Staudinger UM, Factor-Litvak P. A scoping systematic review of social stressors and various measures of telomere length across the life course. Ageing Res Rev 2018; 47:89-104. [PMID: 30048807 PMCID: PMC6195444 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2018.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Numerous studies examine the relationship between social stressors and telomere length (TL). Beyond considering methods and major findings, this scoping systematic review takes a novel approach as it groups studies according to the types of social stressor considered and by age groups. Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Scopus. We included all English-language human subject research articles that modeled any measure of TL as a dependent variable and exposure to a social stressor as an independent variable. For the sample of 105 articles, we summarized methods and findings by type of social stressor (socioeconomic stressors, stressful life events, work-related stressors, and neighborhood stressors) and by age of the study population (infants/children, middle-aged adults, older adults, and mixed samples of middle-aged and older adults). We found more variation in TL measurement methodology in studies of infants/children and older adults than in studies focusing on middle-aged adults. The most consistent finding was a relationship between early-life stressors and shorter TL. Work and neighborhood stressors, and older populations, are currently understudied. Across all stressors, limited evidence suggests that the stress-TL relationship may be moderated by characteristics such as age, sex, and race/ethnicity. We conclude with specific suggestions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret Willis
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States.
| | - Shaina N Reid
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States
| | - Esteban Calvo
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States; Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, United States; Society and Health Research Center, Facultad de Humanidades, Universidad Mayor, Chile; Laboratory on Aging and Social Epidemiology, Universidad Mayor, Chile
| | - Ursula M Staudinger
- Robert N. Butler Columbia Aging Center, Columbia University, United States; Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, United States
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20
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Prastyo DB, Deliana M, Dimyati Y, Arto KS. The Effect of Psychological Stress on Salivary Testosterone in Puberty Children. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2018; 6:1611-1616. [PMID: 30337974 PMCID: PMC6182538 DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2018.321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychological stress is a condition that is experienced by many adolescents which affect the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal axis. Testosterone is known as a sex steroid hormone that is susceptible to acute stress and can be measured through saliva. Disruption of the reproductive system can affect the sexual maturation process. AIM To understand the difference in salivary testosterone levels in puberty children before and after given a stressor. METHODS A quasi-experimental intervention study was conducted at Antonius Bangun Mulia junior high school, Medan, North Sumatera, in July-October 2017. Subjects were students aged 12-14 years with sexual maturity G2 for boys and M2 for girls. Psychological stress intervention was generated by the Wechsler intelligence scale for children fourth edition (WISC IV). Saliva was collected before and after the intervention. The analysis was done with Wilcoxon test and a P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS Forty-two subjects of 24 male students and 18 female students with sexual maturation Tanner II (54.8%) and Tanner III (45.2%). This study obtained that there was a statistically significant difference in salivary testosterone levels before and after the subject was given a stressor (P = 0.015, CI 95%). This difference also was seen within sexual maturation Tanner II (P = 0.045, CI 95%). No difference was observed in testosterone levels based on gender, male students (P = 0.065, CI 95%) and female students (P = 0.112, CI 95%). CONCLUSION Stress can affect salivary testosterone levels. There was a statistically significant difference in salivary testosterone levels before and after psychological stress in puberty children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimas Bagus Prastyo
- Department of Child Health, Medical School, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Melda Deliana
- Department of Child Health, Medical School, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Yazid Dimyati
- Department of Child Health, Medical School, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
| | - Karina Sugih Arto
- Department of Child Health, Medical School, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia
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21
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Axson EL, Peterson KE, Tellez-Rojo MM, Goodrich JM, Meeker J, Mercado-García A, Solano M, Needham BL. Sex Differences in Telomere Length Are Not Mediated by Sex Steroid Hormones or Body Size in Early Adolescence. GENDER AND THE GENOME 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/2470289718795177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is a biomarker of cell aging that is hypothesized to contribute to women’s greater longevity. Although most previous studies have found no sex difference in telomere length at birth, it is well established that females have longer average telomere length than males during adulthood. Proposed biological mechanisms underlying sex differences in adult telomere length include differences in sex steroid hormones and body size, which emerge during the pubertal transition. The purpose of this study was to examine the total effect of sex on telomere length during early adolescence and to examine estradiol, total testosterone, and body surface area (BSA; a measure of body size) as potential mediators of sex differences in telomere length. Data were from a population-based sample of 126 female and 109 male Hispanic adolescents aged 8 to 14 years from the Early Life Exposures in Mexico to ENvironmental Toxicants (ELEMENT) study. Relative telomere length (T/S ratio) was measured by the quantitative polymerase chain reaction method; sex steroid hormones were measured using an automated chemiluminescent immunoassay, and BSA was calculated using measured height and weight. Adjusting for age and pubertal status, we found that girls had significantly longer telomeres than boys (β = .13; P < .01), but there were no significant indirect effects of sex on telomere length through any of the proposed mediators. We conclude that sex differences in telomere length are evident during early adolescence but are not explained by cross-sectional differences in sex steroid hormones or body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor L. Axson
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Karen E. Peterson
- Department of Nutritional Sciences and Center for Human Growth and Development, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Martha M. Tellez-Rojo
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Jaclyn M. Goodrich
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - John Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Adriana Mercado-García
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Col Santa Maria Ahuacatitlan, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Maritsa Solano
- Center for Nutrition and Health Research, National Institute of Public Health of Mexico, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Belinda L. Needham
- Department of Epidemiology and Center for Social Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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22
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Song Y, Cho M, Brennan KM, Chen BH, Song Y, Manson JE, Hevener AL, You NCY, Butch AW, Liu S. Relationships of sex hormone levels with leukocyte telomere length in Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander postmenopausal women. J Diabetes 2018; 10:502-511. [PMID: 28609023 PMCID: PMC6499547 DOI: 10.1111/1753-0407.12577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex hormones may play important roles in sex-specific biological aging. In the study, we specifically examined associations between circulating sex hormone concentrations and leukocyte telomere length (TL). METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1124 Black, 444 Hispanic, and 289 Asian/Pacific Islander women in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Cohort. Estradiol and testosterone concentrations were measured using electrochemiluminescence immunoassays; TL was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Women in the study were aged 50-79 years. Estradiol concentrations were not significantly associated with TL in this sample. The associations between total and free testosterone and TL differed by race/ethnicity (Pinteraction = 0.03 and 0.05 for total and free testosterone, respectively). Total and free testosterone concentrations were not associated with TL in Black and Hispanic women, whereas in Asian/Pacific Islander women their concentrations were inversely associated with TL (Ptrend = 0.003 for both). These associations appeared robust in multiple subgroup analyses and multivariable models adjusted for potential confounding factors. In Asian/Pacific Islander women, a doubling of serum free and total testosterone concentrations was associated with a 202-bp shorter TL (95% confidence interval [CI] 51-353 bp) and 203-bp shorter TL (95% CI 50-355 bp), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Serum estradiol concentrations were not associated with leukocyte TL in this large sample of postmenopausal women. Total and free testosterone concentrations were inversely associated with TL in Asian/Pacific Islander women, but not in Black and Hispanic women, although future studies to replicate our observations are warranted particularly to address potential ethnicity-specific relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Song
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Michele Cho
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Kathleen M Brennan
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Brian H Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yiqing Song
- Department of Epidemiology, Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - JoAnn E Manson
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrea L Hevener
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Nai-Chieh Y You
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Anthony W Butch
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Simin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Department of Medicine, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Abstract
Once dismissed as an innocuous experience of childhood, bullying is now recognized as having significant psychological effects, particularly with chronic exposure. Victims of bullying are at risk for a number of psychiatric disturbances, and growing evidence suggests that the pathophysiological effects of bullying, as with other forms of trauma and chronic stress, create additional health risks. We review the literature on the known sequelae of bullying, including psychiatric and physiological health effects, with a focus on implications for the victim. In addition, since it is now well established that early and chronic exposure to stress has a significant negative impact on health outcomes, we explore the implications of this research in relation to bullying and victimization in childhood. In particular, we examine how aspects of the stress response, via epigenetic, inflammatory, and metabolic mediators, have the capacity to compromise mental and physical health, and to increase the risk of disease. Research on the relevant mechanisms associated with bullying and on potential interventions to decrease morbidity is urgently needed.
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Phan JM, Schneider E, Peres J, Miocevic O, Meyer V, Shirtcliff EA. Social evaluative threat with verbal performance feedback alters neuroendocrine response to stress. Horm Behav 2017; 96:104-115. [PMID: 28919553 PMCID: PMC5753599 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Laboratory stress tasks such as the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) have provided a key piece to the puzzle for how psychosocial stress impacts the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, other stress-responsive biomarkers, and ultimately wellbeing. These tasks are thought to work through biopsychosocial processes, specifically social evaluative threat and the uncontrollability heighten situational demands. The present study integrated an experimental modification to the design of the TSST to probe whether additional social evaluative threat, via negative verbal feedback about speech performance, can further alter stress reactivity in 63 men and women. This TSST study confirmed previous findings related to stress reactivity and stress recovery but extended this literature in several ways. First, we showed that additional social evaluative threat components, mid-task following the speech portion of the TSST, were still capable of enhancing the psychosocial stressor. Second, we considered stress-reactive hormones beyond cortisol to include dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone, and found these hormones were also stress-responsive, and their release was coupled with one another. Third, we explored whether gain- and loss-framing incentive instructions, meant to influence performance motivation by enhancing the personal relevance of task performance, impacted hormonal reactivity. Results showed that each hormone was stress reactive and further had different responses to the modified TSST compared to the original TSST. Beyond the utility of showing how the TSST can be modified with heightened social evaluative threat and incentive-framing instructions, this study informs about how these three stress-responsive hormones have differential responses to the demands of a challenge and a stressor.
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Coimbra BM, Carvalho CM, Moretti PN, Mello MF, Belangero SI. Stress-related telomere length in children: A systematic review. J Psychiatr Res 2017; 92:47-54. [PMID: 28407508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences at the ends of chromatids that shorten following each cell replication. Once telomeres reach a critical length, DNA defense mechanisms can direct cells to either a state of arrest (senescence) or apoptosis. Stress induced by adversity is a probable cause of accelerated telomere shortening from an early age. However, few studies have examined the association between stress and telomere length in children, and it remains unclear whether young individuals may show signs of cellular aging early in life. Our aim was to examine whether adversity in childhood is associated with shortening of telomere length. We conducted a systematic review of studies that investigated the association between stress and telomere length in children from 3 to 15 years of age. Eleven studies met our selection criteria. We concluded that adversity in childhood (such as violence, low socioeconomic status, maternal depression, family disruption, and institutionalization) have an impact on telomere length. This suggests that exposed individuals show signs of accelerated erosion of telomeric ends from an early age. We discuss whether telomere shortening is related to negative health outcomes later in life or could be a biomarker predicting health outcomes. We believe that further large-scale longitudinal studies that repeatedly monitor telomere length are very important for providing a better assessment of telomere trajectory in psychologically stressed children. This will verify the extent to which adversity impacts upon the biological development of cell aging in childhood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Messina Coimbra
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina Muniz Carvalho
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LINC, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Patricia Natalia Moretti
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Feijó Mello
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sintia I Belangero
- Department of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil; LINC, Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Neurosciences, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
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Accelerated telomere shortening: Tracking the lasting impact of early institutional care at the cellular level. Psychiatry Res 2016; 246:95-100. [PMID: 27677058 PMCID: PMC5228335 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Studies examining the association between early adversity and longitudinal changes in telomere length within the same individual are rare, yet are likely to provide novel insight into the subsequent lasting effects of negative early experiences. We sought to examine the association between institutional care history and telomere shortening longitudinally across middle childhood and into adolescence. Buccal DNA was collected 2-4 times, between the ages of 6 and 15 years, in 79 children enrolled in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP), a longitudinal study exploring the impact of early institutional rearing on child health and development. Children with a history of early institutional care (n=50) demonstrated significantly greater telomere shortening across middle childhood and adolescence compared to never institutionalized children (n=29). Among children with a history of institutional care, randomization to high quality foster care was not associated with differential telomere attrition across development. Cross-sectional analysis of children randomized to the care as usual group indicated shorter telomere length was associated with greater percent of the child's life spent in institutional care up to age 8. These results suggest that early adverse care from severe psychosocial deprivation may be embedded at the molecular genetic level through accelerated telomere shortening.
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Dismukes AR, Meyer VJ, Shirtcliff EA, Theall KP, Esteves KC, Drury SS. Diurnal and stress-reactive dehydroepiandrosterone levels and telomere length in youth. Endocr Connect 2016; 5:107-14. [PMID: 27221260 PMCID: PMC5002957 DOI: 10.1530/ec-16-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The current investigation examined the association between the aging-related biomarkers dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and telomere length (TL) in community-recruited African-American youth. The examination of DHEA included stress reactive, basal and diurnal sampling, in order to elucidate the underlying physiological process that may overlap with TL. One hundred and two participants completed the Trier Social Stressor Test for children (TSST-C). TL was obtained from all youth from buccal swabs on the same day as the TSST-C. Saliva samples from 83 participants were obtained over the course of two additional days to measure waking and diurnal levels of DHEA. DHEA diurnal slope was a robust predictor of TL (B=0.516, P<0.05), while other DHEA values were not significantly associated with TL. This study is one of the first studies to examine basal, diurnal and reactivity measurements of DHEA in youth. Furthermore, this is the first study, to our knowledge, to demonstrate a positive association between DHEA, a putative anti-aging hormone, and TL, an indicator of cellular aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Dismukes
- Department of Human Development and Family StudiesIowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA Tulane University School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Vanessa J Meyer
- Department of Human Development and Family StudiesIowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA Tulane University School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Shirtcliff
- Department of Human Development and Family StudiesIowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Katherine P Theall
- Tulane University School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Kyle C Esteves
- Tulane University School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Stacy S Drury
- Tulane University School of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Yabuta S, Masaki M, Shidoji Y. Associations of Buccal Cell Telomere Length with Daily Intake of β-Carotene or α-Tocopherol Are Dependent on Carotenoid Metabolism-related Gene Polymorphisms in Healthy Japanese Adults. J Nutr Health Aging 2016; 20:267-74. [PMID: 26892575 DOI: 10.1007/s12603-015-0577-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomere length shortening is modulated not only by aging, but also by both genetic and environmental factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the interactions between antioxidant nutrient metabolism-related gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (the genetic factors) and nutrient intake (the environmental factors) in their effects on telomere length shortening. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Data were collected on the relative telomere lengths (RTLs) of buccal cells and the habitual food intake of 70 healthy Japanese adults. MEASUREMENTS All subjects were genotyped for two common single nucleotide polymorphisms: rs6564851 in the β-carotene-15,15'-mono-oxygenase 1 (BCMO1) gene and rs362090 in the intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) gene. RESULTS Univariate analysis revealed that buccal RTL was not significantly modulated by either age or gender. Then, we subdivided the study population into four groups based on combinations of the rs6564851 and rs362090 genotypes. After this subdivision, we showed a positive effect of daily α- or β-carotene intake on buccal RTL in the ISX rs362090 G-allele carrier + BCMO1 rs6564851 GG-genotype group (p = 0.026). Additionally, daily intake of another antioxidative fat-soluble vitamin, α-tocopherol, was positively associated with buccal RTL in the ISX rs362090 AA-homozygote + BCMO1 rs6564851 T-allele carrier group (p = 0.037). CONCLUSION Our study clearly indicates that high dietary intake of the antioxidants α, β-carotene and α-tocopherol protects buccal cells from RTL shortening, depending on the genetic background of antioxidant vitamin-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Yabuta
- Yoshihiro Shidoji, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Graduate School of Human Health Science, University of Nagasaki, 1-1-1 Academy Hills, Nagayo, Nagasaki 851-2195, Japan. E-mail:
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Lindqvist D, Epel ES, Mellon SH, Penninx BW, Révész D, Verhoeven JE, Reus VI, Lin J, Mahan L, Hough CM, Rosser R, Bersani FS, Blackburn EH, Wolkowitz OM. Psychiatric disorders and leukocyte telomere length: Underlying mechanisms linking mental illness with cellular aging. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:333-64. [PMID: 25999120 PMCID: PMC4501875 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Revised: 05/06/2015] [Accepted: 05/10/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Many psychiatric illnesses are associated with early mortality and with an increased risk of developing physical diseases that are more typically seen in the elderly. Moreover, certain psychiatric illnesses may be associated with accelerated cellular aging, evidenced by shortened leukocyte telomere length (LTL), which could underlie this association. Shortened LTL reflects a cell's mitotic history and cumulative exposure to inflammation and oxidation as well as the availability of telomerase, a telomere-lengthening enzyme. Critically short telomeres can cause cells to undergo senescence, apoptosis or genomic instability, and shorter LTL correlates with poorer health and predicts mortality. Emerging data suggest that LTL may be reduced in certain psychiatric illnesses, perhaps in proportion to exposure to the psychiatric illnesses, although conflicting data exist. Telomerase has been less well characterized in psychiatric illnesses, but a role in depression and in antidepressant and neurotrophic effects has been suggested by preclinical and clinical studies. In this article, studies on LTL and telomerase activity in psychiatric illnesses are critically reviewed, potential mediators are discussed, and future directions are suggested. A deeper understanding of cellular aging in psychiatric illnesses could lead to re-conceptualizing them as systemic illnesses with manifestations inside and outside the brain and could identify new treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lindqvist
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Section for Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elissa S Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Synthia H Mellon
- Department of OB-GYN and Reproductive Sciences, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Brenda W Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dóra Révész
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Josine E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Victor I Reus
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Laura Mahan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Christina M Hough
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca Rosser
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - F Saverio Bersani
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Elizabeth H Blackburn
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Owen M Wolkowitz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Francisco (UCSF), School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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Drury SS, Esteves K, Hatch V, Woodbury M, Borne S, Adamski A, Theall KP. Setting the trajectory: racial disparities in newborn telomere length. J Pediatr 2015; 166:1181-6. [PMID: 25681203 PMCID: PMC4414786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2015.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2014] [Revised: 12/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore racial differences in newborn telomere length (TL) and the effect moderation of the sex of the infant while establishing the methodology for the use of newborn blood spots for TL analyses. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant mothers were recruited from the Greater New Orleans area. TL was determined via monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction on DNA extracted from infant blood spots. Demographic data and other covariates were obtained via maternal report before the infant's birth. Birth outcome data were obtained from medical records and maternal report. RESULTS Black infants weighed significantly less than white infants at birth and had significantly longer TL than white infants (P=.0134), with the strongest effect observed in black female infants. No significant differences in gestational age were present. CONCLUSIONS Significant racial differences in TL were present at birth in this sample, even after we controlled for a range of birth outcomes and demographic factors. Because longer initial TL is predictive of more rapid TL attrition across the life course, these findings provide evidence that, even at birth, biological vulnerability to early life stress may differ by race and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy S Drury
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA.
| | - Kyle Esteves
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Virginia Hatch
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | | | - Sophie Borne
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Alys Adamski
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
| | - Katherine P Theall
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
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Wren ME, Shirtcliff EA, Drury SS. Not all biofluids are created equal: chewing over salivary diagnostics and the epigenome. Clin Ther 2015; 37:529-39. [PMID: 25778408 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2014] [Revised: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 02/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This article describes progress to date in the characterization of the salivary epigenome and considers the importance of previous work in the salivary microbiome, proteome, endocrine analytes, genome, and transcriptome. METHODS PubMed and Web of Science were used to extensively search the existing literature (original research and reviews) related to salivary diagnostics and biomarker development, of which 125 studies were examined. This article was derived from the most relevant 74 sources highlighting the recent state of the evolving field of salivary epigenomics and contributing significantly to the foundational work in saliva-based research. FINDINGS Validation of any new saliva-based diagnostic or analyte will require comparison to previously accepted standards established in blood. Careful attention to the collection, processing, and analysis of salivary analytes is critical for the development and implementation of newer applications that include genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic markers. All these factors must be integrated into initial study design. IMPLICATIONS This commentary highlights the appeal of the salivary epigenome for translational applications and its utility in future studies of development and the interface among environment, disease, and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Wren
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | | | - Stacy S Drury
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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32
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Exploring Demographic Health Differences—A Foundation for Addressing Health Disparities in Cardiovascular Disease. Am J Med Sci 2014; 348:89-91. [DOI: 10.1097/maj.0000000000000316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Drury SS, Mabile E, Brett ZH, Esteves K, Jones E, Shirtcliff EA, Theall KP. The association of telomere length with family violence and disruption. Pediatrics 2014; 134:e128-37. [PMID: 24936002 PMCID: PMC4067635 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-3415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To enhance the understanding of biological mechanisms connecting early adversity and negative health, we examine the association between family interpersonal violence and disruption and telomere length in youth. These specific exposures were selected because of their established links with negative health consequences across the life-course. METHODS Children, age 5 to 15, were recruited from the greater New Orleans area, and exposure to family disruption and violence was assessed through caregiver report. Telomere length, from buccal cell DNA (buccal telomere length [bTL]), was determined by using monochrome multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The association between bTL and adversity exposure was tested (n = 80). RESULTS Cumulative exposure to interpersonal violence and family disruption was correlated with bTL. Controlling for other sociodemographic factors, bTL was significantly shorter in children with higher exposure to family violence and disruption. Witnessing family violence exerted a particularly potent impact. A significant gender interaction was found (β = -0.0086, SE = 0.0031, z test= -2.79, P = .0053) and analysis revealed the effect only in girls. CONCLUSIONS bTL is a molecular biomarker of adversity and allostatic load that is detectable in childhood. The present results extend previous studies by demonstrating that telomeres are sensitive to adversity within the overarching family domain. These findings suggest that the family ecology may be an important target for interventions to reduce the biological impact of adversity in the lives of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy S. Drury
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Emily Mabile
- Department of Global Community Health, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; and
| | - Zoë H. Brett
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Kyle Esteves
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | - Edward Jones
- Department of Psychiatry, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana
| | | | - Katherine P. Theall
- Department of Global Community Health, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana; and
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