Maternal PTSD associates with greater glucocorticoid sensitivity in offspring of Holocaust survivors.
Intergenerational effects of trauma have been observed clinically in a wide range of populations, and parental PTSD has been associated with an increased risk for psychopathology in offspring. In studies of Holocaust survivor offspring, parental PTSD, and particularly maternal PTSD, has been associated with increased risk for PTSD, low basal urinary cortisol excretion and enhanced cortisol suppression in response to dexamethasone. Such findings implicate maternally derived glucocorticoid programming in the intergenerational transmission of trauma-related consequences, potentially resulting from in utero influences or early life experiences. This study investigated the relative influence of Holocaust exposure and PTSD in mothers and fathers on glucocorticoid sensitivity in offspring. Eighty Holocaust offspring and 15 offspring of non-exposed Jewish parents completed evaluations and provided blood and urine samples. Glucocorticoid sensitivity was evaluated using the lysozyme suppression test (LST), an in vitro measure of glucocorticoid receptor sensitivity in a peripheral tissue, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST), and 24-h urinary cortisol excretion. Maternal PTSD was associated with greater glucocorticoid sensitivity in offspring across all three measures of glucocorticoid function. An interaction of maternal and paternal PTSD on the DST and 24-h urinary cortisol showed an effect of decreased glucocorticoid sensitivity in offspring with paternal, but not maternal, PTSD. Although indirect, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that epigenetic programming may be involved in the intergenerational transmission of trauma-related effects on glucocorticoid regulation.
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States. Electronic address: amy.lehrner@va.gov.
Amy
A
Lehrner
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Linda M
LM
Bierer
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States.
Vincent
V
Passarelli
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Laura C
LC
Pratchett
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Janine D
JD
Flory
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Heather N
HN
Bader
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States.
Iris R
IR
Harris
Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Aarti
A
Bedi
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Nikolaos P
NP
Daskalakis
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Iouri
I
Makotkine
James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, United States.
Rachel
R
Yehuda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D017767:Holocaust / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006854:Hydrocortisone
Cortisol; Dexamethasone suppression test; Glucocorticoid receptor; Holocaust; Intergenerational; PTSD; Risk factor; Trauma