Evidence for interplay between genes and maternal stress in utero: monoamine oxidase A polymorphism moderates effects of life events during pregnancy on infant negative emotionality at 5 weeks

Abstract

The low activity variant of the monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) functional promoter polymorphism, MAOA-LPR, in interaction with adverse environments (G × E) is associated with child and adult antisocial behaviour disorders. MAOA is expressed during foetal development so in utero G × E may influence early neurodevelopment. We tested the hypothesis that MAOA G × E during pregnancy predicts infant negative emotionality soon after birth. In an epidemiological longitudinal study starting in pregnancy, using a two stage stratified design, we ascertained MAOA-LPR status (low vs. high activity variants) from the saliva of 209 infants (104 boys and 105 girls), and examined predictions to observed infant negative emotionality at 5 weeks post-partum from life events during pregnancy. In analyses weighted to provide estimates for the general population, and including possible confounders for life events, there was an MAOA status by life events interaction (P = 0.017). There was also an interaction between MAOA status and neighbourhood deprivation (P = 0.028). Both interactions arose from a greater effect of increasing life events on negative emotionality in the MAOA-LPR low activity, compared with MAOA-LPR high activity infants. The study provides the first evidence of moderation by MAOA-LPR of the effect of the social environment in pregnancy on negative emotionality in infancy, an early risk for the development of child and adult antisocial behaviour disorders.

MAOA Influences the Trajectory of Attentional Development

“…We gain confidence in our finding because it is consistent with previous longitudinal studies showing an association between MAOA and negative outcomes that could have a cognitive component (Edwards et al, 2010; Enoch et al, 2010; Belsky and Beaver, 2011; Daw and Guo, 2011; Fergusson et al, 2011; Lee, 2011; Hill et al, 2013; Pickles et al, 2013; Priess-Groben and Hyde, 2013; Haberstick et al, 2014; Whelan et al, 2014). Such findings establish heterotypic continuity (Putnam et al, 2008; Miller et al, 2009; Lavigne et al, 2014) between the infant reflexive attention task and later child behavior.…”

Maternal prenatal cortisol predicts infant negative emotionality in a sex-dependent manner

“…The stratified design allows general population estimates of means and associations to be derived for measures from all phases. Recruitment of the cohort has been described in detail previously [29], [30]. Approval for the procedures was obtained from the Cheshire North and West Research Ethics Committee (UK).…”

“…The NBAS is a standardised measure designed to assess orienting, motor and emotional regulatory processed during the first weeks of life [32]. The administration and coding of the NBAS task within this cohort has been described in detail previously [29]. We used only the ‘irritability’ scale, which is a count of the number of occasions that the infant shows a change of state from calm, of at least 3 s, to fussing or crying in response to seven standard challenges.…”

Modulation of monoamine oxidase (MAO) expression in neuropsychiatric disorders: genetic and environmental factors involved in type A MAO expression

“…(Hill et al 2013). On the other hand, mao-a genes associated with higher MAO-A levels were reported to protect against the consequences of childhood maltreatment, abuse and neglect for the development of antisocial behavior (Widom and Brzustowicz 2006).…”