title: A multilevel prediction of physiological response to challenge: Interactions among child maltreatment, neighborhood crime, endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS), and GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha-6 gene (GABRA6).
abstract: Physiological response to stress has been linked to a variety of healthy and pathological conditions. The current study conducted a multilevel examination of interactions among environmental toxins (i.e., neighborhood crime and child maltreatment) and specific genetic polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) and GABA(A) receptor subunit alpha-6 gene (GABRA6). One hundred eighty-six children were recruited at age 4. The presence or absence of child maltreatment as well as the amount of crime that occurred in their neighborhood during the previous year were determined at that time. At age 9, the children were brought to the lab, where their physiological response to a cognitive challenge (i.e., change in the amplitude of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia) was assessed and DNA samples were collected for subsequent genotyping. The results confirmed that complex Gene × Gene, Environment × Environment, and Gene × Environment interactions were associated with different patterns of respiratory sinus arrhythmia reactivity. The implications for future research and evidence-based intervention are discussed.
authors.affiliation: State University of New York Geneseo.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester Mt. Hope Family Center.
authors.forename: Jody Todd
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Manly
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Institute of Child Development.
authors.forename: Dante
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cicchetti
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D059647:Gene-Environment Interaction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D065809:Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C546171:GABRA6 protein, human; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III