1
|
Connor A, Deschamps A, Busque L, Tardif JC, Bourgoin V, Dubé MP, Busseuil D, D'Antono B. Childhood Maltreatment and Leukocyte Telomere Length: Cardiac Vagal Activity Influences the Relation in Older Adults. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:146-156. [PMID: 38345296 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood maltreatment is associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL). However, the influence of cardiac vagal control on this relation is unknown. We examined whether cardiac vagal control at rest and in response to stress moderates or cross-sectionally mediates the relationship between childhood maltreatment and LTL. METHODS Participants were 1179 men and women (aged 65 [7.2] years) suffering from coronary artery disease or non-cardiovascular chronic disease. They completed a childhood maltreatment questionnaire and underwent a stress protocol while electrocardiogram was monitored. High-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) measures were obtained at rest, during stress, and after stress in absolute and normalized units (nu). LTL was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed. RESULT HF-HRV and HF-HRV in normalized units (HFnu) measures did not mediate the childhood maltreatment-LTL relation. However, baseline HFnu ( p = .027) and HFnu reactivity ( p = .051) moderated the relation. Specifically, maltreatment was associated with significantly lower LTL among those with baseline HFnu at ( b = -0.059, p = .003) or below the mean ( b = -0.103, p < .001), but not among those with higher baseline HFnu. It was also associated with significantly lower LTL among participants who showed either blunted ( b = -0.058, p = .004) or increased HFnu ( b = -0.099, p = .001) responses to stress but not in those with large decreases in HFnu. CONCLUSIONS Childhood maltreatment was associated with lower LTL in those who showed a distinct cardiac vagal profile at baseline and in response to stress. The mechanisms and implications remain to be determined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Connor
- From the Research Centre, Montreal Heart Institute (Connor, Tardif, Dubé, Busseuil, D'Antono); Psychology Department, Université de Montréal (Connor, D'Antono); Department of Anesthesiology (Deschamps), Montreal Heart Institute; and Research Center, Hematology Division (Bourgoin), Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, and Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal (Tardif, Dubé), Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bosquet Enlow M, De Vivo I, Petty CR, Nelson CA. Temperament and sex as moderating factors of the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Dev Psychopathol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38426330 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579424000518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Individual differences in sensitivity to context are posited to emerge early in development and to influence the effects of environmental exposures on a range of developmental outcomes. The goal of the current study was to examine the hypothesis that temperament characteristics and biological sex confer differential vulnerability to the effects of exposure to maternal depression on telomere length in early childhood. Telomere length has emerged as a potentially important biomarker of current and future health, with possible mechanistic involvement in the onset of various disease states. Participants comprised a community sample of children followed from infancy to age 3 years. Relative telomere length was assessed from DNA in saliva samples collected at infancy, 2 years, and 3 years. Maternal depressive symptoms and the child temperament traits of negative affectivity, surgency/extraversion, and regulation/effortful control were assessed via maternal report at each timepoint. Analyses revealed a 3-way interaction among surgency/extraversion, sex, and maternal depressive symptoms, such that higher surgency/extraversion was associated with shorter telomere length specifically among males exposed to elevated maternal depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that temperament and sex influence children's susceptibility to the effects of maternal depression on telomere dynamics in early life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Immaculata De Vivo
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Program in Genetic Epidemiology and Statistical Genetics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carter R Petty
- Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Division of Developmental Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Coe JL, Daniels T, Huffhines L, Seifer R, Marsit CJ, Kao HT, Porton B, Parade SH, Tyrka AR. Examining the Biological Impacts of Parent-Child Relationship Dynamics on Preschool-Aged Children who have Experienced Adversity. Dev Psychobiol 2024; 66:e22463. [PMID: 38601953 PMCID: PMC11003752 DOI: 10.1002/dev.22463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Parent-child relationship dynamics have been shown to predict socioemotional and behavioral outcomes for children, but little is known about how they may affect biological development. The aim of this study was to test if observational assessments of parent-child relationship dynamics (cohesion, enmeshment, and disengagement) were associated with three biological indices of early life adversity and downstream health risk: (1) methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1), (2) telomere attrition, and (3) mitochondrial biogenesis, indexed by mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), all of which were measured in children's saliva. We tested hypotheses using a sample of 254 preschool-aged children (M age = 51.04 months) with and without child welfare-substantiated maltreatment (52% with documented case of moderate-severe maltreatment) who were racially and ethnically diverse (17% Black, 40% White, 23% biracial, and 20% other races; 45% Hispanic) and from primarily low-income backgrounds (91% qualified for public assistance). Results of path analyses revealed that: (1) higher parent-child cohesion was associated with lower levels of methylation of NR3C1 exon 1D and longer telomeres, and (2) higher parent-child disengagement was associated with higher levels of methylation of NR3C1 exon 1D and shorter telomeres. Results suggest that parent-child relationship dynamics may have distinct biological effects on children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jesse L. Coe
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR Initiative), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Teresa Daniels
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR Initiative), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lindsay Huffhines
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR Initiative), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ronald Seifer
- Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Carmen J. Marsit
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Emory Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hung-Teh Kao
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Barbara Porton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephanie H. Parade
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E.P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR Initiative), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Audrey R. Tyrka
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Initiative on Stress, Trauma, and Resilience (STAR Initiative), Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nguyen DH. Role of Endorphins in Breast Cancer Pathogenesis and Recovery. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 35:87-106. [PMID: 38874719 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45493-6_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between stress and breast cancer development is essential to preventing and alleviating the cancer. Recent research has shed light on the cognitive, physiological, cellular, and molecular underpinnings of how the endorphin pathway and stress pathway affect breast cancer. This chapter consists of two parts. Part 1 will discuss the role of endorphins in breast cancer development. This includes a discussion of three topics: (1) the neurophysiological effect of endorphins on breast tumor growth in vivo, along with further experiments that will deepen our knowledge of how β-endorphin affects breast cancer; (2) how both the opioid receptor and somatostatin receptor classes alter intracellular signaling in breast cancer cells; and (3) genetic alleles in the opioid signaling pathway that are correlated with increased breast cancer risk. Part 2 will discuss the role of endorphins in recovery from breast cancer. This includes a discussion of three topics: (1) the relationship between breast cancer diagnosis and depression; (2) the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in reducing stress in breast cancer patients; and (3) the effect of psychotherapy and exercise on preserving telomere length in breast cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David H Nguyen
- BrainScanology, Inc, Concord, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Daoust AR, Thakur A, Kotelnikova Y, Kleiber ML, Singh SM, Hayden EP. Associations Between Children's Telomere Length, Parental Intrusiveness, and the Development of Early Externalizing Behaviors. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 2023; 54:672-682. [PMID: 34727279 DOI: 10.1007/s10578-021-01279-3] [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] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Shorter telomeres mark cellular aging and are linked to chronic stress exposure as well as negative physical and psychological outcomes. However, it is unclear whether telomere length mediates associations between early stress exposure and later externalizing problems, or whether boys and girls differ in pathways to these concerns. We therefore examined associations between telomere length, early stress via negative caregiving, and children's externalizing symptom development over time in 409 three-year-old children and their parents. Telomere length mediated the association between early parental intrusiveness and later rule-breaking behavior; however, this association was moderated by children's biological sex such that parent intrusiveness was related only to boys' rule-breaking. Findings support the notion that children's telomere length may mark individual differences in responses to negative early caregiving, and highlight a potential mechanism contributing to the development of rule-breaking problems in boys.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew R Daoust
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
- Department of Psychology, Brain and Mind Institute, Western University, Western Interdisciplinary Research Building, Room 2178, Perth Drive, London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
| | - Aditi Thakur
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Morgan L Kleiber
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Shiva M Singh
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth P Hayden
- Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ask TF, Sütterlin S. Prefrontally modulated vagal neuroimmunomodulation is associated with telomere length. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:1063162. [PMID: 36605550 PMCID: PMC9807922 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.1063162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulated senescent cells are proposed to be one of the main drivers of age-related pathology such as dementia and cancer through disruption of tissue structure and function. We recently proposed the Neuro-Immuno-Senescence Integrative Model (NISIM), which relates prefrontally modulated vagal tone and subsequent balance between vagal and sympathetic input to the spleen to inflammatory responses leading to generation of reactive oxygen species and oxidative telomere damage. Aim In this study, we assess inflammation as a mediator in the relationship between prefrontally modulated vagal tone and leukocyte telomere length (LTL). We also assess the relationship between a recently proposed index of vagal neuroimmunomodulation (vagal tone/inflammation ratio; NIM index) and telomere length. Methods This study uses participant data from a large nationally representative longitudinal study since 1974 with a total of 45,000 Norwegian residents so far. A sub-sample of 131 participants from which ultrashort recordings (30 s) of vagal tone, c reactive protein, and LTL could be obtained were included in the study. Relationships were analyzed with Pearson's correlations and hierarchical multiple linear regression using either vagal tone and CRP or the NIM index to predict telomere length. Results Vagal tone was a significant positive predictor of telomere length but this was not mediated by c reactive protein, even after controlling for confounders. The NIM index was a significant positive predictor of telomere length, also when controlling for confounders. In a follow-up analysis simultaneously comparing telomere length between groups with high and low values of vagal tone, and between groups with high and low NIM index values, telomere length was only significantly different between NIM index groups. Conclusion This is the first study suggesting that prefrontally modulated vagal neuroimmunomodulation is associated with telomere length thus supporting the NISIM. Results indicate that the NIM index is a more sensitive indicator of vagal neuroimmunomodulation than vagal tone and CRP in isolation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Torvald F. Ask
- Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway,Department of Information Security and Communication Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Gjøvik, Norway,*Correspondence: Torvald F. Ask,
| | - Stefan Sütterlin
- Faculty of Health, Welfare and Organisation, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway,Faculty of Computer Science, Albstadt-Sigmaringen University, Sigmaringen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Robakis TK, Roth MC, King LS, Humphreys KL, Ho M, Zhang X, Chen Y, Li T, Rasgon NL, Watson KT, Urban AE, Gotlib IH. Maternal attachment insecurity, maltreatment history, and depressive symptoms are associated with broad DNA methylation signatures in infants. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3306-3315. [PMID: 35577912 PMCID: PMC9666564 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01592-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The early environment, including maternal characteristics, provides many cues to young organisms that shape their long-term physical and mental health. Identifying the earliest molecular events that precede observable developmental outcomes could help identify children in need of support prior to the onset of physical and mental health difficulties. In this study, we examined whether mothers' attachment insecurity, maltreatment history, and depressive symptoms were associated with alterations in DNA methylation patterns in their infants, and whether these correlates in the infant epigenome were associated with socioemotional and behavioral functioning in toddlerhood. We recruited 156 women oversampled for histories of depression, who completed psychiatric interviews and depression screening during pregnancy, then provided follow-up behavioral data on their children at 18 months. Buccal cell DNA was obtained from 32 of their infants for a large-scale analysis of methylation patterns across 5 × 106 individual CpG dinucleotides, using clustering-based significance criteria to control for multiple comparisons. We found that tens of thousands of individual infant CpGs were alternatively methylated in association with maternal attachment insecurity, maltreatment in childhood, and antenatal and postpartum depressive symptoms, including genes implicated in developmental patterning, cell-cell communication, hormonal regulation, immune function/inflammatory response, and neurotransmission. Density of DNA methylation at selected genes from the result set was also significantly associated with toddler socioemotional and behavioral problems. This is the first report to identify novel regions of the human infant genome at which DNA methylation patterns are associated longitudinally both with maternal characteristics and with offspring socioemotional and behavioral problems in toddlerhood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thalia K Robakis
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Marissa C Roth
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lucy S King
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kathryn L Humphreys
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, Peabody College of Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Marcus Ho
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Xianglong Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Natalie L Rasgon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kathleen T Watson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Alexander E Urban
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Ian H Gotlib
- Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Effects of Exercise Training on the Autonomic Nervous System with a Focus on Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidants Effects. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11020350. [PMID: 35204231 PMCID: PMC8868289 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies show that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) has an important impact on health in general. In response to environmental demands, homeostatic processes are often compromised, therefore determining an increase in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS)’s functions and a decrease in the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS)’s functions. In modern societies, chronic stress associated with an unhealthy lifestyle contributes to ANS dysfunction. In this review, we provide a brief introduction to the ANS network, its connections to the HPA axis and its stress responses and give an overview of the critical implications of ANS in health and disease—focused specifically on the immune system, cardiovascular, oxidative stress and metabolic dysregulation. The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA), the SNS and more recently the PNS have been identified as regulating the immune system. The HPA axis and PNS have anti-inflammatory effects and the SNS has been shown to have both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects. The positive impact of physical exercise (PE) is well known and has been studied by many researchers, but its negative impact has been less studied. Depending on the type, duration and individual characteristics of the person doing the exercise (age, gender, disease status, etc.), PE can be considered a physiological stressor. The negative impact of PE seems to be connected with the oxidative stress induced by effort.
Collapse
|
10
|
Lee RS, Zandi PP, Santos A, Aulinas A, Carey JL, Webb SM, McCaul ME, Resmini E, Wand GS. Cross-species Association Between Telomere Length and Glucocorticoid Exposure. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106:e5124-e5135. [PMID: 34265046 PMCID: PMC8787853 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgab519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic exposure to glucocorticoids (GCs) or stress increases the risk of medical disorders, including cardiovascular and neuropsychiatric disorders. GCs contribute to accelerated aging; however, while the link between chronic GC exposure and disease onset is well established, the underpinning mechanisms are not clear. OBJECTIVE We explored the potential nexus between GCs or stress exposure and telomere length. METHODS In addition to rats exposed to 3 weeks of chronic stress, an iatrogenic mouse model of Cushing syndrome (CS), and a mouse neuronal cell line, we studied 32 patients with CS and age-matched controls and another cohort of 75 healthy humans. RESULTS (1) Exposure to stress in rats was associated with a 54.5% (P = 0.036) reduction in telomere length in T cells. Genomic DNA (gDNA) extracted from the dentate gyrus of stressed and unstressed rats showed 43.2% reduction in telomere length (P = 0.006). (2) Mice exposed to corticosterone had a 61.4% reduction in telomere length in blood gDNA (P = 5.75 × 10-5) and 58.8% reduction in telomere length in the dentate gyrus (P = 0.002). (3) We observed a 40.8% reduction in the telomere length in patients with active CS compared to healthy controls (P = 0.006). There was a 17.8% reduction in telomere length in cured CS patients, which was not different from that of healthy controls (P = 0.08). For both cured and active CS, telomere length correlated significantly with duration of hypercortisolism (R2 = 0.22, P = 0.007). (4) There was a 27.6% reduction in telomere length between low and high tertiles in bedtime cortisol levels of healthy participants (P = 0.019). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that exposure to stress and/or GCs is associated with shortened telomeres, which may be partially reversible.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard S Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Peter P Zandi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Alicia Santos
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Aulinas
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jenny L Carey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Susan M Webb
- Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER, Unit747), IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mary E McCaul
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Eugenia Resmini
- Correspondence: Eugenia Resmini, MD, PhD, Endocrinology/Medicine Department, Hospital Sant Pau, CIBER-ER, Unit747, IIB-Sant Pau, ISCIII, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gary S Wand
- Gary S. Wand, MD, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Pubertal development mediates the association between family environment and brain structure and function in childhood. Dev Psychopathol 2020; 32:687-702. [PMID: 31258099 PMCID: PMC7525116 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579419000580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial acceleration theory suggests that pubertal maturation is accelerated in response to adversity. In addition, suboptimal caregiving accelerates development of the amygdala–medial prefrontal cortex circuit. These findings may be related. Here, we assess whether associations between family environment and measures of the amygdala–medial prefrontal cortex circuit are mediated by pubertal development in more than 2000 9- and 10-year-old children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (http://dx.doi.org/10.15154/1412097). Using structural equation modeling, demographic, child-reported, and parent-reported data on family dynamics were compiled into a higher level family environment latent variable. Magnetic resonance imaging preprocessing and compilations were performed by the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study's data analysis core. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) thickness, area, white matter fractional anisotropy, amygdala volume, and cingulo-opercular network–amygdala resting-state functional connectivity were assessed. For ACC cortical thickness and ACC fractional anisotropy, significant indirect effects indicated that a stressful family environment relates to more advanced pubertal stage and more mature brain structure. For cingulo-opercular network–amygdala functional connectivity, results indicated a trend in the expected direction. For ACC area, evidence for quadratic mediation by pubertal stage was found. Sex-stratified analyses suggest stronger results for girls. Despite small effect sizes, structural measures of circuits important for emotional behavior are associated with family environment and show initial evidence of accelerated pubertal development.
Collapse
|
12
|
Extremely low birth weight influences the relationship between stress and telomere length in adulthood. J Dev Orig Health Dis 2020; 12:328-334. [PMID: 32468974 DOI: 10.1017/s2040174420000409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study examined the link between two biological markers of stress vulnerability at 22-26 years of age and telomere length at 30-35 among extremely low birth weight (ELBW; <1000 g) survivors and normal birth weight (NBW; >2500 g) control participants. Sixteen ELBW and 22 NBW participants provided baseline afternoon salivary cortisol samples and resting frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) alpha asymmetry data at 22-26 years. Buccal cells were assayed for telomere length at 30-35 years. Analyses controlled for sex, postnatal steroid exposure, childhood socioeconomic status, time of cortisol sample collection, and body mass index at 22-26 years. Salivary cortisol and frontal asymmetry at age 22-26 independently predicted telomere length at age 30-35, such that relatively higher cortisol and greater relative right frontal asymmetry at rest predicted telomere shortening among NBW controls, but not among ELBW survivors. However, similar associations were not noted in ELBW survivors, suggesting that ELBW survivors may have different mechanisms of stress coping as a result of their early-life exposures. These findings offer preliminary evidence in support of the role of stress in the genesis of cellular senescence at least among those born at NBW, but that these links may differ in those born preterm.
Collapse
|
13
|
Effect of Combat Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder on Telomere Length and Amygdala Volume. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY: COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE AND NEUROIMAGING 2020; 5:678-687. [PMID: 32439402 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsc.2020.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic stress can adversely affect physical and mental health through neurobiological stress response systems. We examined the effects of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on telomere length, a biomarker of cellular aging, and volume of the amygdala, a key structure of stress regulation, in combat-exposed veterans. In addition, the relationships of psychopathological symptoms and autonomic function with telomere length and amygdala volume were examined. METHODS Male combat veterans were categorized as having PTSD diagnosis (n = 102) or no lifetime PTSD diagnosis (n = 111) based on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Subjects were assessed for stress-related psychopathology, trauma severity, autonomic function, and amygdala volumes by magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS A significant interaction was found between trauma severity and PTSD status for telomere length and amygdala volume after adjusting for multiple confounders. Subjects with PTSD showed shorter telomere length and larger amygdala volume than those without PTSD among veterans exposed to high trauma, while there was no significant group difference in these parameters among those exposed to low trauma. Among veterans exposed to high trauma, greater telomere shortening was significantly correlated with greater norepinephrine, and larger amygdala volume was correlated with more severe psychological symptoms and higher heart rates. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the intensity of the index trauma event plays an important role in interacting with PTSD symptomatology and autonomic activity in predicting telomere length and amygdala volume. These results highlight the importance of trauma severity and PTSD status in predicting certain biological outcomes.
Collapse
|
14
|
Rej PH, Bondy MH, Lin J, Prather AA, Kohrt BA, Worthman CM, Eisenberg DTA. Telomere length analysis from minimally-invasively collected samples: Methods development and meta-analysis of the validity of different sampling techniques: American Journal of Human Biology. Am J Hum Biol 2020; 33:e23410. [PMID: 32189404 DOI: 10.1002/ajhb.23410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Telomeres are the protective caps of chromosomes. They shorten with cell replication, age, and possibly environmental stimuli (eg, infection and stress). Short telomere length (TL) predicts subsequent worse health. Although venous whole blood (VWB) is most commonly used for TL measurement, other, more minimally invasive, sampling techniques are becoming increasingly common due to their field-friendliness, allowing for feasible measurement in low-resource contexts. We conducted statistical validation work for measuring TL in dried blood spots (DBS) and incorporated our results into a meta-analysis evaluating minimally invasive sampling techniques to measure TL. METHODS We isolated DNA extracts from DBS using a modified extraction protocol and tested how they endured different shipping conditions and long-term cryostorage. We then included our in-house DBS TL validation statistics (correlation values with VWB TL and age) in a series of meta-analyses of results from 24 other studies that published similar associations for values between TL measured in DBS, saliva, and buccal cells. RESULTS Our modified DBS extraction technique produced DNA yields that were roughly twice as large as previously recorded. Partially extracted DBS DNA was stable for 7 days at room temperature, and still provided reliable TL measurements, as determined by external validation statistics. In our meta-analysis, DBS TL had the highest external validity, followed by saliva, and then buccal cells-possibly reflecting similarities/differences in cellular composition vs VWB. CONCLUSIONS DBS DNA is the best proxy for VWB from the three minimally-invasively specimen types evaluated and can be used to expand TL research to diverse settings and populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter H Rej
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Madison H Bondy
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Aric A Prather
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Brandon A Kohrt
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Carol M Worthman
- Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Dan T A Eisenberg
- Department of Anthropology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, Seattle, Washington, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Shahane AD, LeRoy AS, Denny BT, Fagundes CP. Connecting cognition, cardiology, and chromosomes: Cognitive reappraisal impacts the relationship between heart rate variability and telomere length in CD8 +CD28 - cells. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2020; 112:104517. [PMID: 31785500 PMCID: PMC6935397 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.104517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Individuals who poorly regulate emotion exhibit premature aging and worse general health. Telomere shortening, a prognostic biomarker of physical health, is related to aging, poor immunocompetence and autonomic nervous system functioning. Cognitive reappraisal is one type of emotion regulation strategy, which involves changing one's appraisal of an aversive situation to modify its emotional impact. Heart rate variability (HRV; i.e., oscillations in heart rate) relates to emotion regulatory processes, such that higher HRV typically reflects greater regulatory capacity. Previous research has identified a positive association between HRV and telomere length. Importantly, the association between HRV and telomere length may change depending on how often an individual uses cognitive reappraisal. One hundred and thirty-seven healthy participants completed measures of cognitive reappraisal frequency, HRV, and underwent blood draws to measure telomere length (computed with the relative ratio of telomere repeat copy number to single copy gene number) in the T cell effector population, CD8+CD28-. Cognitive reappraisal moderated the relationship between telomere length and HRV such that individuals with high cognitive reappraisal frequency had a significant positive association between HRV and telomere length, while individuals with average and less than average frequency did not exhibit this relationship. The results suggest that frequent usage of cognitive reappraisal enhances the already positive influence of HRV on chromosomal integrity in CD8+CD28- T lymphocytes. Although future research is needed to test these effects causally, these findings suggest that regularly using emotion regulation techniques may buffer the relationship between autonomic nervous system functioning and chromosomal integrity in immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Christopher P Fagundes
- Rice University, Houston, TX, United States; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States; Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Beijers R, Hartman S, Shalev I, Hastings W, Mattern BC, de Weerth C, Belsky J. Testing three hypotheses about effects of sensitive-insensitive parenting on telomeres. Dev Psychol 2020; 56:237-250. [PMID: 31961192 PMCID: PMC7391860 DOI: 10.1037/dev0000879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres are the protective DNA-protein sequences appearing at the ends of chromosomes; they shorten with each cell division and are considered a biomarker of aging. Shorter telomere length and greater erosion have been associated with compromised physical and mental health and are hypothesized to be affected by early life stress. In the latter case, most work has relied on retrospective measures of early life stressors. The Dutch research (n = 193) presented herein tested 3 hypotheses prospectively regarding effects of sensitive-insensitive parenting during the first 2.5 years on telomere length at age 6, when first measured, and change over the following 4 years. It was predicted that (1) less sensitive parenting would predict shorter telomeres and greater erosion and that such effects would be most pronounced in children (2) exposed to prenatal stress and/or (3) who were highly negatively emotional as infants. Results revealed, only, that prenatal stress amplified parenting effects on telomere change-in a differential-susceptibility-related manner: Prenatally stressed children displayed more erosion when they experienced insensitive parenting and less erosion when they experienced sensitive parenting. Mechanisms that might initiate greater postnatal plasticity as a result of prenatal stress are highlighted and future work outlined. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jay Belsky
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Biological embedding of maternal postpartum depressive symptoms: The potential role of cortisol and telomere length. Biol Psychol 2019; 150:107809. [PMID: 31734351 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2019.107809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Although maternal postpartum depressive symptoms (PDS) are associated with child behavior problems, the underlying biological mechanisms are poorly understood. Thus, the current study focused on 193 healthy mother-child dyads and investigated child cortisol and telomere length as potential mediating factors. At 3 and 6 months postpartum, mothers reported on PDS. At age 6, children provided saliva and buccal swab samples. At age 10, mothers and children reported on child behavior problems. Structural equation modelling revealed (a) no association between PDS and child behavior problems and thus no possibility of mediation, but that (b) lower cortisol forecast more child-reported internalizing problems, and (c) shorter telomere length predicted more child-reported internalizing and externalizing problems. These findings raise mediational questions about the determinants of these biomarkers.
Collapse
|
18
|
Ridout KK, Parade SH, Kao HT, Magnan S, Seifer R, Porton B, Price LH, Tyrka AR. Childhood maltreatment, behavioral adjustment, and molecular markers of cellular aging in preschool-aged children: A cohort study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 107:261-269. [PMID: 31174164 PMCID: PMC7839663 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Childhood maltreatment is a major risk factor for the development of behavioral problems and poor physical and mental health. Accelerated cellular aging, through reduced telomere length and mitochondrial dysfunction, may be a mechanism underlying these associations. METHODS Families with (n = 133) and without (n = 123) child welfare documentation of moderate-severe maltreatment in the past six months participated in this study. Children ranged in age from 3 to 5 years, were racially and ethnically diverse, and 91% qualified for public assistance. Structured record review and interviews were used to assess a history of maltreatment and other adversities. Telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn) were measured from saliva DNA using real-time PCR. Measures were repeated at a six-month follow-up assessment. Repeated measures general linear models were used to examine the effects of maltreatment and other adversities on telomere length and mtDNAcn over time. RESULTS Maltreatment and other adverse experiences were significant positive predictors of both telomere length and mtDNAcn over time. Internalizing and externalizing behavior problems were also both significantly associated with telomere length, but only internalizing symptoms were associated with mtDNAcn. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to show that mtDNAcn is altered in children with stress and trauma, and the findings are consistent with recent studies of adults. Surprisingly, children who experienced moderate-severe levels of maltreatment in the prior six months had longer telomeres, possibly reflecting compensatory changes in response to recent trauma. Telomere length and mtDNAcn were also associated with behavioral problems, suggesting that these measures of cellular aging may be causally implicated in the pathophysiology of stress-related conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn K. Ridout
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stephanie H. Parade
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
| | - Hung-Teh Kao
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Stevie Magnan
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Ronald Seifer
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Bradley/Hasbro Children’s Research Center, E. P. Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA
| | - Barbara Porton
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Lawrence H. Price
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Audrey R. Tyrka
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA,Address Correspondence to: Audrey R. Tyrka, M.D., Ph.D., Butler Hospital, 345 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906. TEL: (401) 455-6520. FAX: (401) 455-6534.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
JONES CW, ESTEVES KC, GRAY SA, Clarke TN, CALLERAME K, THEALL KP, DRURY SS. The transgenerational transmission of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Insights from placental aging and infant autonomic nervous system reactivity. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 106:20-27. [PMID: 30947082 PMCID: PMC6589123 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test alterations in placental cellular aging as one pathway by which maternal early adversity influences physiologic development in her offspring. METHODS Maternal report of her adverse childhood experiences (ACE) was obtained prenatally along with measures of prenatal stress and demographic information. Placentas (N = 67) were collected at birth and telomere length (TL) was measured in four separate fetally-derived placental tissues: amnion, chorion, villus, and umbilical cord. At four months of age, infants completed the still-face paradigm (SFP) during which respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) data were collected; RSA reactivity and RSA recovery was available from 44 and 41 infants respectively. Multi-level mixed effects models examined the impact of maternal ACE score on placental TL. Generalized linear models tested the relation between composite placental TL and infant RSA, as well as the moderation of maternal ACE score and infant RSA by composite placental TL. RESULTS Higher maternal ACE score significantly predicted shorter placental TL across tissues (β = -0.015; P = 0.036) and infant RSA across the SFP. No direct relation was found between placental TL and RSA, however composite placental TL moderated the relation between ACE score and both infant RSA reactivity (β = 0.025; P = 0.005) and RSA recovery (β = -0.028; P = 0.032). In infants with shorter composite placental TL, higher ACE score predicted greater RSA suppression during the still-face epoch relative to play period 1 and greater RSA augmentation during play period 2 relative to the still-face epoch. CONCLUSIONS These data are the first, to our knowledge, to report that changes in placental TL influence the transgenerational impact of maternal early life adversity on the development of her offspring's autonomic nervous system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W. JONES
- New Orleans, LA; Tulane Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Tulane University
| | - Kyle C. ESTEVES
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Sarah A.O. GRAY
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychology, Tulane University, School of Science and Engineering
| | - Tegan N. Clarke
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Keegan CALLERAME
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| | - Katherine P. THEALL
- New Orleans, LA; Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine
| | - Stacy S. DRURY
- New Orleans, LA; Tulane Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Tulane University; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane University School of Medicine
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Thijssen S, Collins PF, Luciana M. Pubertal development mediates the association between family environment and brain structure and function in childhood. Dev Psychopathol 2019. [PMID: 31258099 DOI: 10.15154/1412097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Psychosocial acceleration theory suggests that pubertal maturation is accelerated in response to adversity. In addition, suboptimal caregiving accelerates development of the amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex circuit. These findings may be related. Here, we assess whether associations between family environment and measures of the amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex circuit are mediated by pubertal development in more than 2000 9- and 10-year-old children from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study (http://dx.doi.org/10.15154/1412097). Using structural equation modeling, demographic, child-reported, and parent-reported data on family dynamics were compiled into a higher level family environment latent variable. Magnetic resonance imaging preprocessing and compilations were performed by the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study's data analysis core. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) thickness, area, white matter fractional anisotropy, amygdala volume, and cingulo-opercular network-amygdala resting-state functional connectivity were assessed. For ACC cortical thickness and ACC fractional anisotropy, significant indirect effects indicated that a stressful family environment relates to more advanced pubertal stage and more mature brain structure. For cingulo-opercular network-amygdala functional connectivity, results indicated a trend in the expected direction. For ACC area, evidence for quadratic mediation by pubertal stage was found. Sex-stratified analyses suggest stronger results for girls. Despite small effect sizes, structural measures of circuits important for emotional behavior are associated with family environment and show initial evidence of accelerated pubertal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Thijssen
- Department of Psychology, Education, and Child Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Paul F Collins
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Monica Luciana
- Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jiang Y, Da W, Qiao S, Zhang Q, Li X, Ivey G, Zilioli S. Basal cortisol, cortisol reactivity, and telomere length: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 103:163-172. [PMID: 30695740 PMCID: PMC6450740 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The objective of the present study is to synthesize the existing empirical literature and perform a meta-analysis of published data on the relationship between cortisol and telomere length. We systematically searched studies that examined the relationship between cortisol and telomere length in humans on electronic databases and screened reference sections of included articles. Fourteen studies were included in the meta-analysis, with effect sizes being extracted for two cortisol measures: basal cortisol levels and cortisol reactivity to acute psychological stress. Results from random effects models showed that basal cortisol levels (13 effect sizes from 12 cross-sectional studies, N = 3675 participants) were not significantly correlated with telomere length (r =-0.05, 95% CI [-0.11, 0.02]). Further, results stratified by the specimen type for cortisol measurement (i.e., saliva, urine, blood) showed that none of the three basal cortisol level measures were correlated with telomere length. However, we found a statistically significant correlation between salivary cortisol reactivity to acute psychosocial stress (6 cross-sectional studies, N = 958 participants) and telomere length (r = -0.13, 95% CI [-0.23, -0.03]). Subgroup analyses revealed that correlations between salivary cortisol reactivity and telomere length were more evident in studies conducted among children (vs. adults) and in studies that included female participants only (vs. both genders). However, the small number of available studies limits the conclusions derived from subgroup analyses, and more studies are needed before moderator effects can be properly established. Overall, findings of this study support the existence of a relationship between cortisol reactivity and telomere shortening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Jiang
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC United States.
| | - Wendi Da
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Shan Qiao
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Quan Zhang
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Xiaoming Li
- Department of Health Promotion, Education, & Behavior, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Grace Ivey
- Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI United States; Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI United States.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Enlow MB, Sideridis G, Bollati V, Hoxha M, Hacker MR, Wright RJ. Maternal cortisol output in pregnancy and newborn telomere length: Evidence for sex-specific effects. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 102:225-235. [PMID: 30590340 PMCID: PMC6420355 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.12.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Newborn telomere length is a potential biomarker of the effects of maternal-fetal processes on offspring long-term health. A number of maternal psychosocial and environmental factors in pregnancy (e.g., stress, health, socioeconomic status) have been associated with shortened telomere length at birth. The physiological mechanisms responsible for potential effects of maternal factors on newborn telomere length have yet to be identified. Indirect evidence suggests that disruptions in maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in pregnancy may be involved. Studies are needed that test whether maternal HPA axis functioning in pregnancy is associated with newborn telomere length. This study examined whether maternal HPA axis functioning across pregnancy, reflected in hair cortisol collected within one week after delivery, predicted newborn telomere length assessed from leukocyte cord blood collected at birth among 93 sociodemographically diverse mother-infant dyads. We further tested whether associations between maternal hair cortisol and newborn telomere length differed by infant sex, given documented sex differences in prenatal environmental exposure effects on offspring health, patterns of cortisol exposure during gestation, and telomere biology across the lifespan. In a multi-group structural equation modeling analysis that accounted for cortisol exposures across trimesters, maternal cortisol levels in pregnancy were not associated with newborn telomere length in the sample as a whole. However, significant sex differences emerged, with a significant positive association among females and a lack of a significant association among males. In addition, analyses revealed that cortisol levels were higher across trimesters among mothers of male infants than mothers of female infants. The results suggest that functioning of the maternal HPA axis in pregnancy may differ by fetal sex and have sex-specific effects on newborn telomere biology. These findings have implications for understanding the mechanisms by which maternal psychosocial and environmental exposures influence newborn telomere length and for elucidating mechanisms contributing to sex disparities in health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bosquet Enlow
- Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, AT-120.3, Mailstop BCH 3199, Boston, MA 02115, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Georgios Sideridis
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA,Institutional Centers for Clinical and Translational Research, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, AT-210.3, Mailstop BCH 3200, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Valentina Bollati
- EPIGET Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via San Barnaba 8, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Mirjam Hoxha
- EPIGET Lab, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, via San Barnaba 8, 20122, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele R. Hacker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Avenue, KS3, Boston, MA 02215, USA,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rosalind J. Wright
- Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1198, New York City, NY 10029, USA,Institute for Exposomic Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Ask TF, Lugo RG, Sütterlin S. The Neuro-Immuno-Senescence Integrative Model (NISIM) on the Negative Association Between Parasympathetic Activity and Cellular Senescence. Front Neurosci 2018; 12:726. [PMID: 30369866 PMCID: PMC6194361 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that accumulated senescent cells drive age-related pathologies, but the antecedents to the cellular stressors that induce senescence remain poorly understood. Previous research suggests that there is a relationship between shorter telomere length, an antecedent to cellular senescence, and psychological stress. Existing models do not sufficiently account for the specific pathways from which psychological stress regulation is converted into production of reactive oxygen species. We propose the neuro-immuno-senescence integrative model (NISIM) suggesting how vagally mediated heart rate variability (HRV) might be related to cellular senescence. Prefrontally modulated, and vagally mediated cortical influences on the autonomic nervous system, expressed as HRV, affects the immune system by adrenergic stimulation and cholinergic inhibition of cytokine production in macrophages and neutrophils. Previous findings indicate that low HRV is associated with increased production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. IL-6 and TNF-α can activate the NFκB pathway, increasing production of reactive oxygen species that can cause DNA damage. Vagally mediated HRV has been related to an individual's ability to regulate stress, and is lower in people with shorter telomeres. Based on these previous findings, the NISIM suggest that the main pathway from psychological stress to individual differences in oxidative telomere damage originates in the neuroanatomical components that modulate HRV, and culminates in the cytokine-induced activation of NFκB. Accumulated senescent cells in the brain is hypothesized to promote age-related neurodegenerative disease, and previous reports suggest an association between low HRV and onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Accumulating senescent cells in peripheral tissues secreting senescence-associated secretory phenotype factors can alter tissue structure and function which can induce cancer and promote tumor growth and metastasis in old age, and previous research suggested that ability to regulate psychological stress has a negative association with cancer onset. We therefore conclude that the NISIM can account for a large proportion of the individual differences in the psychological stress-related antecedents to cellular senescence, and suggest that it can be useful in providing a dynamic framework for understanding the pathways by which psychological stress induce pathologies in old age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Torvald F. Ask
- Research Group on Cognition, Health, and Performance, Institute of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Ricardo G. Lugo
- Research Group on Cognition, Health, and Performance, Institute of Psychology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Stefan Sütterlin
- Faculty of Health and Welfare Sciences, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway
- Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Stülb K, Messerli-Bürgy N, Kakebeeke TH, Arhab A, Zysset AE, Leeger-Aschmann CS, Schmutz EA, Meyer AH, Garcia-Burgos D, Ehlert U, Kriemler S, Jenni OG, Puder JJ, Munsch S. Age-Adapted Stress Task in Preschoolers Does not Lead to Uniform Stress Responses. JOURNAL OF ABNORMAL CHILD PSYCHOLOGY 2018; 47:571-587. [PMID: 30255434 DOI: 10.1007/s10802-018-0475-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Acute stress response measures serve as an indicator of physiological functioning, but have previously led to contradictory results in young children due to age-related cortisol hypo-responsivity and methodological inconsistencies in assessment. The aim of this study was to investigate stress responses during a validated age-adapted socio-evaluative stress task in children aged 2-6 years in a child care environment and to detect socio-demographic, task- and child-related characteristics of stress responses. Stress responses were assessed in 323 children for salivary cortisol and salivary alpha amylase (sAA), and in 328 children for changes in heart rate variability (HRV). These data were then associated with socio-demographic (e.g. SES), task-related (e.g. task length) and child-related characteristics (e.g. self-regulation) of stress responses using multilevel models. Analyses revealed elevated sympathetic reactivity (sAA: Coeff=0.053, p=0.004) and reduced HRV (Coeff=-0.465, p<0.001), but no hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response (Coeff=0.017, p=0.08) during the stress task. Child's age (Coeff=-5.82, p<0.001) and movement during the task (Coeff=-0.17, p=0.015) were associated with acute cortisol release, while diurnal sAA was associated with acute sAA release (Coeff=0.24, p<0.001). Age (Coeff=-0.15, p=0.006) and duration of the task (Coeff=0.13, p=0.015) were further associated with change of HRV under acute stress condition. Children showed inconsistent stress responses which contradicts the assumption of a parallel activation of both stress systems in a valid stress task for young children and might be explained by a pre-arousal to the task of young children in a child care setting. Further results confirm that child- and task-related conditions need to be considered when assessing stress responses in these young children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kerstin Stülb
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Messerli-Bürgy
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department of Psychology - Clinical Child Psychology and Biological Psychology, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Avenue Pierre Decker 2, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Tanja H Kakebeeke
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amar Arhab
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Avenue Pierre Decker 2, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Annina E Zysset
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudia S Leeger-Aschmann
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Einat A Schmutz
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrea H Meyer
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Department for Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 62A, 4055, Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Garcia-Burgos
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Ulrike Ehlert
- Department of Psychology - Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestrasse 14/Box 26, 8050, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susi Kriemler
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute, University of Zurich, Hirschengraben 84, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Oskar G Jenni
- Child Development Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
- Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Steinwiesstrasse 75, 8032, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jardena J Puder
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Service, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Avenue Pierre Decker 2, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Diabetology and Obesity, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV), Hôtel des Patients, Ave de Sallaz 8, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simone Munsch
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, University of Fribourg, Rue P.A. de Faucigny 2, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Calcaterra V, Cena H, de Silvestri A, Albertini R, De Amici M, Valenza M, Pelizzo G. Stress Measured by Allostatic Load in Neurologically Impaired Children: The Importance of Nutritional Status. Horm Res Paediatr 2018; 88:224-230. [PMID: 28693012 DOI: 10.1159/000477906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Allostatic load (AL) is the cumulative physiological wear and tear that results from repeated efforts to adapt to stressors over time. The life stress response is modified by nutritional status. AIM We estimated AL scores among neurologically impaired (NI) children; the association with malnutrition was also evaluated. METHODS Forty-one patients with severe disabilities were included. Data based on 15 biomarkers were used to create the AL score. A dichotomous outcome of high AL was defined for those who had ≥6 dysregulated components. Body mass index (BMI)-standard deviation score (SDS) <-2 or SDS ≥2 and biochemical markers (≥4) defined malnutrition. RESULTS High AL was noted in 17/41 of the whole sample (41.47%). Malnutrition occurred in 36.6% of the subjects. A significant correlation between high AL and malnutrition was observed (p = 0.01; ar ea under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.7457). High AL subjects had a significantly higher BMI (p = 0.009) and lower BMI-SDS (p = 0.003) than low AL subjects. AL score correlated with fat mass (p ≤ 0.01) and negatively correlated with fat-free mass (p ≤ 0.02). CONCLUSION In NI children, high AL was associated with malnutrition. Body composition is a better indicator than BMI of allostatic adjustments. AL estimation should be considered a measure of health risk and be used to promote quality of life in at-risk disabled populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Calcaterra
- Department of the Mother and Child Health, Pediatric Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Hellas Cena
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, Unit of Human Nutrition, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Annalisa de Silvestri
- Biometry and Clinical Epidemiology, Scientific Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Riccardo Albertini
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mara De Amici
- Immuno-Allergy Laboratory, Pediatric Clinic, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
| | - Mario Valenza
- Operating Room Coordination, Ospedale ARNAS Civico, Di Cristina e Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Gloria Pelizzo
- Pediatric Surgery Unit, Children's Hospital, Istituto Mediterraneo di Eccellenza Pediatrica, Palermo, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Murdock KW, Zilioli S, Ziauddin K, Heijnen CJ, Fagundes CP. Attachment and telomere length: more evidence for psychobiological connections between close relationships, health, and aging. J Behav Med 2018; 41:333-343. [PMID: 29067540 PMCID: PMC5916749 DOI: 10.1007/s10865-017-9895-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with a history of poor interpersonal relationships are more likely to demonstrate negative health outcomes than those who have had high quality relationships. We sought to evaluate how attachment orientations, stress-induced respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), and self-reported stress were associated with length of telomeres measured from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Participants (N = 213) completed self-report measures of attachment and stress. Measurement of RSA was conducted before and after a stressful task and a blood draw was completed for analysis of telomere length. Attachment orientations were not directly associated with telomere length; however, we found that high attachment anxiety was associated with shorter length of telomeres via high self-reported stress. Attachment avoidance was also associated with telomere length via self-reported stress, but only among those with high stress-induced RSA. Exploratory analyses of T cell subsets indicated that stress was most strongly associated with telomeres from CD8CD28+ cells in comparison to CD8CD28- and CD4 cells. Study findings indicate that attachment orientations are associated with telomere length via stress, providing novel insights into the mechanisms through which close relationships can impact health and aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyle W Murdock
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Biobehavioral Health, The Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Samuele Zilioli
- Department of Psychology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | | | - Cobi J Heijnen
- Department of Symptom Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Christopher P Fagundes
- Department of Psychology, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Bateson M, Nettle D. Why are there associations between telomere length and behaviour? Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20160438. [PMID: 29335363 PMCID: PMC5784059 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual differences in telomere length are associated with individual differences in behaviour in humans and birds. Within the human epidemiological literature this association is assumed to result from specific behaviour patterns causing changes in telomere dynamics. We argue that selective adoption-the hypothesis that individuals with short telomeres are more likely to adopt specific behaviours-is an alternative worthy of consideration. Selective adoption could occur either because telomere length directly affects behaviour or because behaviour and telomere length are both affected by a third variable, such as exposure to early-life adversity. We present differential predictions of the causation and selective adoption hypotheses and describe how these could be tested with longitudinal data on telomere length. Crucially, if behaviour is causal then it should be associated with differential rates of telomere attrition. Using smoking behaviour as an example, we show that the evidence that smoking accelerates the rate of telomere attrition within individuals is currently weak. We conclude that the selective adoption hypothesis for the association between behaviour and telomere length is both mechanistically plausible and, if anything, more compatible with existing empirical evidence than the hypothesis that behaviour is causal.This article is part of the theme issue 'Understanding diversity in telomere dynamics'.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Bateson
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Daniel Nettle
- Centre for Behaviour and Evolution and Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Epel ES, Prather AA. Stress, Telomeres, and Psychopathology: Toward a Deeper Understanding of a Triad of Early Aging. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 2018; 14:371-397. [PMID: 29494257 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-032816-045054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres play an important part in aging and show relationships to lifetime adversity, particularly childhood adversity. Meta-analyses demonstrate reliable associations between psychopathology (primarily depression) and shorter telomere length, but the nature of this relationship has not been fully understood. Here, we review and evaluate the evidence for impaired telomere biology as a consequence of psychopathology or as a contributing factor, and the important mediating roles of chronic psychological stress and impaired allostasis. There is evidence for a triadic relationship among stress, telomere shortening, and psychiatric disorders that is positively reinforcing and unfolds across the life course and, possibly, across generations. We review the role of genetics and biobehavioral responses that may contribute to shorter telomere length, as well as the neurobiological impact of impaired levels of telomerase. These complex interrelationships are important to elucidate because they have implications for mental and physical comorbidity and, potentially, for the prevention and treatment of depression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Aric A Prather
- Department of Psychiatry; Center for Health and Community; Aging, Metabolism, and Emotions Center; University of California, San Francisco, California 94118, USA; ,
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Infant HPA axis as a potential mechanism linking maternal mental health and infant telomere length. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2018; 88:38-46. [PMID: 29161636 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2017] [Revised: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Maternal depression has been suggested to be an independent risk factor for both dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) functioning and shorter telomere length in offspring. In contrast, research suggests that individual differences in mindfulness may act as a protective factor against one's own telomere degradation. Currently, research has yet to investigate the association between longitudinal changes in maternal mental health (depressive symptoms and mindfulness) and salivary infant telomere length, and whether such changes might be mediated by alterations in infant cortisol response. In 48 mother-infant dyads, we investigated whether the changes in maternal mental health, when infants were 6-12 months of age, predicted change in infant cortisol reactivity and recovery over this period. We also investigated whether these changes in infant HPA functioning predicted subsequent infant salivary telomere length at 18 months of age. Furthermore, we investigated whether change in infant HPA functioning provided a potential pathway between changes in maternal mental health factors and infant salivary telomere length. Analyses revealed that increases in maternal depressive symptoms over that six-month period indirectly related to subsequent shorter infant telomere length through increased infant cortisol reactivity. Implications for the ways in which maternal mental health can impact offspring stress mechanisms related to aging and disease trajectories are discussed.
Collapse
|
30
|
Manoliu A, Bosch OG, Brakowski J, Brühl AB, Seifritz E. The potential impact of biochemical mediators on telomere attrition in major depressive disorder and implications for future study designs: A narrative review. J Affect Disord 2018; 225:630-646. [PMID: 28889049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 08/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) has been proposed to represent a "disease of premature aging", which is associated with certain biomarkers of cellular ageing and numerous other age-related diseases. Over the last decade, telomere length (TL) arose as a surrogate for cellular aging. Recent data suggests that TL might be reduced in patients with MDD, however, results are still inconclusive. This might be explained by the lack of assessment of potential biochemical mediators that are directly associated with telomere shortening and frequently observed in patients with MDD. METHODS A narrative review was performed. The PubMed database was searched for relevant studies. RESULTS We identified four major mediators, which are recurrently reported in patients with MDD and are associated with reduced TL: inflammation/oxidative stress, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, metabolic dysbalance including insulin resistance, and decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor. These mediators are also mutually associated and were not systematically assessed in current studies investigating TL and MDD, which might explain inconclusive findings across current literature. Finally, we discuss possible ways to assess those mediators and potential implications of such approaches for future research. LIMITATIONS The majority of identified studies had cross-sectional designs and used heterogeneous methods to assess TL and associated relevant biochemical mediators. CONCLUSIONS A better understanding of the complex interactions between biochemical mediators, somatic comorbidities and shortened telomeres in patients with MDD might further specify the pathophysiology-based conceptualization and, based on that, personalized treatment of MDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Manoliu
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Oliver G Bosch
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Janis Brakowski
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Annette B Brühl
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Erich Seifritz
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric University Hospital, University of Zurich, Lenggstrasse 31, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Attachment security moderates the link between adverse childhood experiences and cellular aging. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 30:1211-1223. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
AbstractExposure to childhood adversity has been linked to accelerated telomere shortening, a marker of cellular aging and an indicator of physical health risk. In the current study, we examined whether adult attachment representation moderated the association between childhood adversity and telomere length. Participants included 78 young adults (M age = 20.46, SD = 1.57), who reported on their exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and were administered the Adult Attachment Interview, which was coded for attachment state of mind. Relative telomere length was assayed from buccal cells. Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant interaction between attachment state of mind and ACE in predicting telomere length. Whereas the association between number of ACE and telomere length was nonsignificant for secure–autonomous, r (50) = –.15, p = .31, and insecure–preoccupied young adults, r (9) = –.15, p = .71, there was a strong negative association between number of ACE and telomere length for insecure–dismissing young adults, r (19) = –.59, p = .007. This study is novel in demonstrating that attachment may affect biological resilience following childhood adversity, contributing to the growing literature about the role of the quality of early caregiving experiences and their representations in shaping biological processes and physical health.
Collapse
|
32
|
Drury SS, Howell BR, Jones C, Esteves K, Morin E, Schlesinger R, Meyer JS, Baker K, Sanchez MM. Shaping long-term primate development: Telomere length trajectory as an indicator of early maternal maltreatment and predictor of future physiologic regulation. Dev Psychopathol 2017; 29:1539-1551. [PMID: 29162166 PMCID: PMC5864972 DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The molecular, neurobiological, and physical health impacts of child maltreatment are well established, yet mechanistic pathways remain inadequately defined. Telomere length (TL) decline is an emerging molecular indicator of stress exposure with definitive links to negative health outcomes in maltreated individuals. The multiple confounders endemic to human maltreatment research impede the identification of causal pathways. This study leverages a unique randomized, cross-foster, study design in a naturalistic translational nonhuman primate model of infant maltreatment. At birth, newborn macaques were randomly assigned to either a maltreating or a competent control mother, balancing for sex, biological mother parenting history, and social rank. Offspring TL was measured longitudinally across the first 6 months of life (infancy) from peripheral blood. Hair cortisol accumulation was also determined at 6, 12, and 18 months of age. TL decline was greater in animals randomized to maltreatment, but also interacted with biological mother group. Shorter TL at 6 months was associated with higher mean cortisol levels through 18 months (juvenile period) when controlling for relevant covariates. These results suggest that even under the equivalent social, nutritional, and environmental conditions feasible in naturalistic translational nonhuman primate models, early adverse caregiving results in lasting molecular scars that foreshadow elevated health risk and physiologic dysregulation.
Collapse
|
33
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Boyce WT. Epigenomic Susceptibility to the Social World: Plausible Paths to a "Newest Morbidity". Acad Pediatr 2017; 17:600-606. [PMID: 28652068 DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2017.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This article-presented on the celebratory occasion of Dr Robert Haggerty's 91st birthday-describes how a 1962 article by Dr Haggerty and his colleague Dr Roger Meyer launched a previously unexplored, pediatric research enterprise by asserting that: "There are little precise data to explain why one person becomes ill with an infecting agent and another not." Noting a prospective association between family stressors and the acquisition of β-hemolytic streptococcal infections, the article introduced a generation of young academic pediatricians-the author of the present article among them-to the possibility of causal linkages among children's adversity exposures, compromised immunological processes, and the development of immune-mediated, acute or chronic diseases of childhood. That research agenda has led, over the past 40 years, to the advent of psychoneuroimmunology as a field of study, to the recognition of childhood stress and adversity as potential etiologic agents among childhood morbidities, and to the discovery of differential susceptibility to social adversities within populations of children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- W Thomas Boyce
- Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Barha CK, Salvante KG, Hanna CW, Wilson SL, Robinson WP, Altman RM, Nepomnaschy PA. Child mortality, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and cellular aging in mothers. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0177869. [PMID: 28542264 PMCID: PMC5444612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Psychological challenges, including traumatic events, have been hypothesized to increase the age-related pace of biological aging. Here we test the hypothesis that psychological challenges can affect the pace of telomere attrition, a marker of cellular aging, using data from an ongoing longitudinal-cohort study of Kaqchikel Mayan women living in a population with a high frequency of child mortality, a traumatic life event. Specifically, we evaluate the associations between child mortality, maternal telomere length and the mothers’ hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA), or stress axis, activity. Child mortality data were collected in 2000 and 2013. HPAA activity was assessed by quantifying cortisol levels in first morning urinary specimens collected every other day for seven weeks in 2013. Telomere length (TL) was quantified using qPCR in 55 women from buccal specimens collected in 2013. Results: Shorter TL with increasing age was only observed in women who experienced child mortality (p = 0.015). Women with higher average basal cortisol (p = 0.007) and greater within-individual variation (standard deviation) in basal cortisol (p = 0.053) presented shorter TL. Non-parametric bootstrapping to estimate mediation effects suggests that HPAA activity mediates the effect of child mortality on TL. Our results are, thus, consistent with the hypothesis that traumatic events can influence cellular aging and that HPAA activity may play a mediatory role. Future large-scale longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm our results and further explore the role of the HPAA in cellular aging, as well as to advance our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cindy K. Barha
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Katrina G. Salvante
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- Human Evolutionary Studies Program, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Courtney W. Hanna
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Samantha L. Wilson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wendy P. Robinson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Rachel M. Altman
- Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Pablo A. Nepomnaschy
- Maternal and Child Health Laboratory, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- Human Evolutionary Studies Program, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
- Child and Family Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Woody A, Hamilton K, Livitz IE, Figueroa WS, Zoccola PM. Buccal telomere length and its associations with cortisol, heart rate variability, heart rate, and blood pressure responses to an acute social evaluative stressor in college students. Stress 2017; 20:249-257. [PMID: 28482730 DOI: 10.1080/10253890.2017.1328494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Understanding the relationship between stress and telomere length (a marker of cellular aging) is of great interest for reducing aging-related disease and death. One important aspect of acute stress exposure that may underlie detrimental effects on health is physiological reactivity to the stressor. METHODS This study tested the relationship between buccal telomere length and physiological reactivity (salivary cortisol reactivity and total output, heart rate (HR) variability, blood pressure, and HR) to an acute psychosocial stressor in a sample of 77 (53% male) healthy young adults. RESULTS Consistent with predictions, greater reductions in HR variability (HRV) in response to a stressor and greater cortisol output during the study session were associated with shorter relative buccal telomere length (i.e. greater cellular aging). However, the relationship between cortisol output and buccal telomere length became non-significant when adjusting for medication use. Contrary to past findings and study hypotheses, associations between cortisol, blood pressure, and HR reactivity and relative buccal telomere length were not significant. Overall, these findings may indicate there are limited and mixed associations between stress reactivity and telomere length across physiological systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Woody
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | - Katrina Hamilton
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
- b Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | - Irina E Livitz
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| | | | - Peggy M Zoccola
- a Department of Psychology , Ohio University , Athens , OH , USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Steptoe A, Hamer M, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Erusalimsky JD. The Longitudinal Relationship Between Cortisol Responses to Mental Stress and Leukocyte Telomere Attrition. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2017; 102:962-969. [PMID: 27967317 PMCID: PMC5460695 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2016-3035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Chronic psychological stress has been associated with shorter telomeres, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. One possibility is that the neuroendocrine responses to stress exposure are involved. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that greater cortisol responsivity to acute stressors predicts more rapid telomere attrition. DESIGN We measured salivary cortisol responses to 2 challenging behavioral tasks. Leukocyte telomere length was measured at the time of mental stress testing and 3 years later. PARTICIPANTS We studied 411 initially healthy men and women aged 54 to 76 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Leukocyte telomere length. RESULTS Cortisol responses to this protocol were small; we divided participants into cortisol responders (n = 156) and nonresponders (n = 255) using a criterion (≥20% increase in cortisol concentration) previously shown to predict increases in cardiovascular disease risk. There was no significant association between cortisol responsivity and baseline telomere length, although cortisol responders tended to have somewhat shorter telomeres (β = -0.061; standard error, 0.049). But cortisol responders had shorter telomeres and more rapid telomere attrition than nonresponders on follow-up, after controlling statistically for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking, time of day of stress , and baseline telomere length (β = -0.10; standard error, 0.046; P = 0.029). The association was maintained after additional control for cardiovascular risk factors (β = -0.11; P = 0.031). The difference between cortisol responders and nonresponders was equivalent to approximately 2 years in aging. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that cortisol responsivity may mediate, in part, the relationship between psychological stress and cellular aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Steptoe
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Hamer
- School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Jue Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158; and
| | - Elizabeth H Blackburn
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158; and
| | - Jorge D Erusalimsky
- Cardiff School of Health Sciences, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff CF5 2YB, Wales, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Zou Y, Leong W, Yao M, Hu X, Lu S, Zhu X, Chen L, Tong J, Shi J, Gilson E, Ye J, Lu Y. Test anxiety and telomere length: Academic stress in adolescents may not cause rapid telomere erosion. Oncotarget 2017; 8:10836-10844. [PMID: 28122333 PMCID: PMC5355227 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Academic stress (AS) is one of the most important health problems experienced by students, but no biomarker of the potential psychological or physical problems associated with AS has yet been identified. As several cross-sectional studies have shown that psychiatric conditions accelerate aging and shorten telomere length (TL), we explored whether AS affected TL.Between June 2014 and July 2014, we recruited 200 junior high school students with imminent final examinations for participation in this study. The students were divided into three subgroups (mild, moderate, and severe anxiety) using the Sarason Test Anxiety Scale (TAS). Saliva samples were collected for TL measurement via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).Students from both a specialized and a general school suffered from anxiety (p > 0.05). A total 35% had severe anxiety (score: 26.09±3.87), 33% had moderate anxiety (16.98±2.64), and 32% had mild anxiety (7.89±1.92). The TAS values differed significantly (p < 0.05) among the three subgroups, but the TLs of saliva cells differed only slightly (p > 0.05): 1.14±0.46 for those with severe anxiety, 1.02±0.40 for those with moderate anxiety, and 1.12±0.45 for those with mild anxiety.Previous reports have found that AS is very common in Asian adolescents. We found no immediate telomere shortening in adolescents with AS. Longitudinal observations are required to determine if TL is affected by AS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaru Zou
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai, China.,Dermatology Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Waiian Leong
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingling Yao
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefei Hu
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,School of Life Science, Eastern China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sixiao Lu
- Xiangming High School, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhu
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lianxiang Chen
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianjing Tong
- Exclusive Medical Care Center, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Eric Gilson
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, IRCAN, Faculty of Medicine, Nice, France.,Department of Medical Genetics, CHU Nice, France
| | - Jing Ye
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiming Lu
- International Laboratory in Hematology and Cancer, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine/Ruijin Hospital/CNRS/INSERM/Nice University, Pôle Sino-Français de Recherche en Sciences du Vivant et Génomique, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital North, Shanghai, China.,Emergency Department, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Contextual adversity, telomere erosion, pubertal development, and health: Two models of accelerated aging, or one? Dev Psychopathol 2016; 28:1367-1383. [DOI: 10.1017/s0954579416000900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractTwo independent lines of inquiry suggest that growing up under conditions of contextual adversity (e.g., poverty and household chaos) accelerates aging and undermines long-term health. Whereas work addressing the developmental origins of health and disease highlights accelerated-aging effects of contextual adversity on telomere erosion, that informed by an evolutionary analysis of reproductive strategies highlights such effects with regard to pubertal development (in females). That both shorter telomeres early in life and earlier age of menarche are associated with poor health later in life raises the prospect, consistent with evolutionary life-history theory, that these two bodies of theory and research are tapping into the same evolutionary–developmental process whereby longer term health costs are traded off for increased probability of reproducing before dying via a process of accelerated aging. Here we make the case for such a claim, while highlighting biological processes responsible for these effects, as well as unknowns in the epigenetic equation that might instantiate these contextually regulated developmental processes.
Collapse
|
40
|
Révész D, Verhoeven JE, Milaneschi Y, Penninx BWJH. Depressive and anxiety disorders and short leukocyte telomere length: mediating effects of metabolic stress and lifestyle factors. Psychol Med 2016; 46:2337-2349. [PMID: 27266474 DOI: 10.1017/s0033291716000891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depressive and anxiety disorders are associated with shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL), an indicator of cellular aging. It is, however, unknown which pathways underlie this association. This study examined the extent to which lifestyle factors and physiological changes such as inflammatory or metabolic alterations mediate the relationship. METHOD We applied mediation analysis techniques to data from 2750 participants of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. LTL was assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Independent variables were current depressive (30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptoms - Self Report) and anxiety (21-item Beck's Anxiety Inventory) symptoms and presence of a depressive or anxiety disorder diagnosis based on DSM-IV; mediator variables included physiological stress systems, metabolic syndrome components and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Short LTL was associated with higher symptom severity (B = -2.4, p = 0.002) and current psychiatric diagnosis (B = -63.3, p = 0.024). C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cigarette smoking were significant mediators in the relationship between psychopathology and LTL. When all significant mediators were included in one model, the effect sizes of the relationships between LTL and symptom severity and current diagnosis were reduced by 36.7 and 32.7%, respectively, and the remaining direct effects were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS Pro-inflammatory cytokines, metabolic alterations and cigarette smoking are important mediators of the association between depressive and anxiety disorders and LTL. This calls for future research on intervention programs that take into account lifestyle changes in mental health care settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Révész
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - J E Verhoeven
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - Y Milaneschi
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| | - B W J H Penninx
- Department of Psychiatry and EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research,VU University Medical Center,Amsterdam,The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Early-life stress and reproductive cost: A two-hit developmental model of accelerated aging? Med Hypotheses 2016; 90:41-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 02/28/2016] [Accepted: 03/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
|
42
|
Rash JA, Thomas JC, Campbell TS, Letourneau N, Granger DA, Giesbrecht GF. Developmental origins of infant stress reactivity profiles: A multi-system approach. Dev Psychobiol 2016; 58:578-99. [DOI: 10.1002/dev.21403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A. Rash
- Department of Psychology; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Jenna C. Thomas
- Department of Psychology; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Tavis S. Campbell
- Department of Psychology; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Faculty of Nursing and Cumming School of Medicine (Pediatrics and Psychiatry); University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | - Douglas A. Granger
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Saliva Bioscience Research; Arizona State University; Tempe AZ 85287
- Bloomberg School of Public Health and School of Medicine; The John Hopkins University School of Nursing; Baltimore MD 21205
| | - Gerald F. Giesbrecht
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine; University of Calgary; 2500 University Drive N.W. Calgary AB T2N 1N4 Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
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.
Collapse
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:
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
44
|
Bush NR, Caron ZK, Blackburn KS, Alkon A. Measuring Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Activity in Toddlers - Resting and Developmental Challenges. J Vis Exp 2016:53652. [PMID: 26967045 DOI: 10.3791/53652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) consists of two branches, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, and controls the function of internal organs (e.g., heart rate, respiration, digestion) and responds to everyday and adverse experiences (1). ANS measures in children have been found to be related to behavior problems, emotion regulation, and health (2-7). Therefore, understanding the factors that affect ANS development during early childhood is important. Both branches of the ANS affect young children's cardiovascular responses to stimuli and have been measured noninvasively, via external monitoring equipment, using valid and reliable measures of physiological change (8-11). However, there are few studies of very young children with simultaneous measures of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, which limits understanding of the integrated functioning of the two systems. In addition, the majority of existing studies of young children report on infants' resting ANS measures or their reactivity to commonly used mother-child interaction paradigms, and less is known about ANS reactivity to other challenging conditions. We present a study design and standardized protocol for a non-invasive and rapid assessment of cardiac autonomic control in 18 month old children. We describe methods for continuous monitoring of the parasympathetic and sympathetic branches of the ANS under resting and challenge conditions during a home or laboratory visit and provide descriptive findings from our sample of 140 ethnically diverse toddlers using validated equipment and scoring software. Results revealed that this protocol can produce a range of physiological responses to both resting and developmentally challenging conditions, as indicated by changes in heart rate and indices of parasympathetic and sympathetic activity. Individuals demonstrated variability in resting levels, responses to challenges, and challenge reactivity, which provides additional evidence that this protocol is useful for the examination of ANS individual differences for toddlers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole R Bush
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco
| | - Zoe K Caron
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco
| | | | - Abbey Alkon
- School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco;
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Wojcicki JM, Heyman MB, Elwan D, Shiboski S, Lin J, Blackburn E, Epel E. Telomere length is associated with oppositional defiant behavior and maternal clinical depression in Latino preschool children. Transl Psychiatry 2015; 5:e581. [PMID: 26080316 PMCID: PMC4490282 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2015.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to psychological stress and depression are associated with shorter white blood cell telomere length (TL) in adults, possibly via associated lifelong oxidative stressors. Exposure to maternal depression increases risk for future depression and behavior problems in children, and Latino youth are at high risk. Few studies have evaluated the role of exposure to maternal depression or child behavior in relation to TL in children. We assessed early-childhood exposures to maternal depression from birth to the age of 5 years and child behavior from ages 3-5 years in a cohort of Latino children in relation to child leukocyte TL at ages 4 and 5 years. Children who had oppositional defiant behavior at 3, 4 or 5 years had shorter TL than those without by ~450 base pairs (P < 0.01). In multivariate analyses, independent predictors for shorter TL at 4 and 5 years of age included oppositional defiant disorder at 3, 4 or 5 years (β = -359.25, 95% CI -633.84 to 84.66; P = 0.01), exposure to maternal clinical depression at 3 years of age (β = -363.99, 95% CI -651.24 to 764.74; P = 0.01), shorter maternal TL (β = 502.92, 95% CI 189.21-816.63) and younger paternal age at the child's birth (β = 24.63, 95% CI 1.14-48.12). Thus, exposure to maternal clinical depression (versus depressive symptoms) in early childhood was associated with deleterious consequences on child cellular health as indicated by shorter TL at 4 and 5 years of age. Similarly, children with oppositional defiant behavior also had shorter TL, possibly related to early exposures to maternal clinical depression. Our study is the first to link maternal clinical depression and oppositional defiant behavior with shorter TL in the preschool years in a relatively homogenous population of low-income Latino children.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J M Wojcicki
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA,Department of Pediatrics, University of California, 550 16th Street, 5th Floor, Mail Stop 0136, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. E-mail:
| | - M B Heyman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - D Elwan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S Shiboski
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - J Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - E Blackburn
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - E Epel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Telomere length and cortisol reactivity in children of depressed mothers. Mol Psychiatry 2015; 20:615-20. [PMID: 25266121 PMCID: PMC4419149 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2014.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A growing body of research demonstrates that individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) are characterized by shortened telomere length, which has been posited to underlie the association between depression and increased instances of medical illness. The temporal nature of the relation between MDD and shortened telomere length, however, is not clear. Importantly, both MDD and telomere length have been associated independently with high levels of stress, implicating dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and anomalous levels of cortisol secretion in this relation. Despite these associations, no study has assessed telomere length or its relation with HPA-axis activity in individuals at risk for depression, before the onset of disorder. In the present study, we assessed cortisol levels in response to a laboratory stressor and telomere length in 97 healthy young daughters of mothers either with recurrent episodes of depression (i.e., daughters at familial risk for depression) or with no history of psychopathology. We found that daughters of depressed mothers had shorter telomeres than did daughters of never-depressed mothers and, further, that shorter telomeres were associated with greater cortisol reactivity to stress. This study is the first to demonstrate that children at familial risk of developing MDD are characterized by accelerated biological aging, operationalized as shortened telomere length, before they had experienced an onset of depression; this may predispose them to develop not only MDD but also other age-related medical illnesses. It is critical, therefore, that we attempt to identify and distinguish genetic and environmental mechanisms that contribute to telomere shortening.
Collapse
|
48
|
Ridout SJ, Ridout KK, Kao HT, Carpenter LL, Philip NS, Tyrka AR, Price LH. Telomeres, early-life stress and mental illness. ADVANCES IN PSYCHOSOMATIC MEDICINE 2015; 34:92-108. [PMID: 25832516 DOI: 10.1159/000369088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Telomeres are structures of tandem TTAGGG repeats that are found at the ends of chromosomes and preserve genomic DNA by serving as a disposable buffer to protect DNA termini during chromosome replication. In this process, the telomere itself shortens with each cell division and can consequently be thought of as a cellular 'clock', reflecting the age of a cell and the time until senescence. Telomere shortening and changes in the levels of telomerase, the enzyme that maintains telomeres, occur in the context of certain somatic diseases and in response to selected physical stressors. Emerging evidence indicates that telomeres shorten with exposure to psychosocial stress (including early-life stress) and perhaps in association with some psychiatric disorders. These discoveries suggest that telomere shortening might be a useful biomarker for the overall stress response of an organism to various pathogenic conditions. In this regard, telomeres and their response to both somatic and psychiatric illness could serve as a unifying stress-response biomarker that crosses the brain/body distinction that is often made in medicine. Prospective studies will help to clarify whether this biomarker has broad utility in psychiatry and medicine for the evaluation of responses to psychosocial stressors. The possibility that telomere shortening can be slowed or reversed by psychiatric and psychosocial interventions could represent an opportunity for developing novel preventative and therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Ridout
- Mood Disorders Research Program and Laboratory for Clinical and Translational Neuroscience, Butler Hospital, Providence, R.I., USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Telomere length and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response to stress in elderly adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2015; 53:179-84. [PMID: 25622010 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Telomere shortening, a biomarker of cellular aging, has been associated with aging-related diseases. While psychological stress has been implicated in the process of telomere shortening, associations with activity of physiological stress systems have remained elusive. We studied whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis responses to psychosocial stress in elderly adults. METHODS LTL, measured by qPCR method was available in 1964 women and men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study at a mean age of 61.5 (SD=2.9) years. At a mean age of 63.5 (SD=2.7) years a subsample of them took part in the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) during which salivary cortisol (n=283) and plasma cortisol and ACTH concentrations (n=215) were measured. RESULTS Mixed model regression analyses showed no linear or non-linear associations between LTL and HPA axis activity during TSST (p-values for LTL main effects >298; p-values for LTL×time interactions >096). Only one non-linear association between LTL and plasma ACTH area under the curve increment was significant after adjustments for covariates and confounders. This association did not survive correction for multiple testing. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that LTL is not consistently associated with HPA axis activity during a standardized psychosocial stress test in elderly adults.
Collapse
|
50
|
Entringer S, Epel ES, Lin J, Blackburn EH, Buss C, Simhan HN, Wadhwa PD. Maternal estriol concentrations in early gestation predict infant telomere length. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2015; 100:267-73. [PMID: 25337925 PMCID: PMC4283015 DOI: 10.1210/jc.2014-2744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Telomere biology plays a fundamental role in genomic integrity, cellular regeneration, physiology, aging, disease risk, and mortality. The initial setting of telomere length (TL) in early life has important implications for telomere maintenance and related disorders throughout the life span. However, little is known about the predictors of this initial setting. OBJECTIVE Given the established role of estrogen on adult TL and the role of estriol (E3) in the context of fetal development, the goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that higher maternal E3 concentration during early pregnancy is associated with longer infant telomere length. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND SETTING Study participants comprised a cohort of N = 100 infants followed prospectively from intrauterine life and birth through early childhood from a population-based, representative sample of pregnant mothers recruited in early pregnancy at university-based obstetric clinics in Southern California. Maternal unconjugated E3 concentrations were assessed in plasma in early gestation (around wk 15). Infant TL was assessed in buccal cells at approximately 15 months of age. RESULTS After accounting for the effects of potential confounding maternal and infant variables, there was a significant, independent effect of maternal E3 concentration on infant TL (unstandardized β = 0.297; P = .001; 95% Cl, 0.121-0.473). Specifically, a one-multiple-of-the-median (MoM) increase in maternal E3 concentration during early pregnancy was associated with a 14.42% increase in infant TL. CONCLUSIONS This study supports the concept of developmental plasticity of the telomere biology system and highlights specifically the role of a potentially modifiable intrauterine factor for additional mechanistic and clinical investigation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Entringer
- Departments of Pediatrics (S.E., C.B., P.D.W.), Obstetrics and Gynecology (P.D.W.), Epidemiology (P.D.W.), and Psychiatry and Human Behavior (P.D.W.), University of California, Irvine; California 92697; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences (H.N.S.), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213; Departments of Psychiatry (E.S.E.), and Biochemistry and Biophysics (E.H.B.), University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143; and Institute for Medical Psychology (S.E., C.B.), Charité University Medicine, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|