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The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene and child's sex moderate the relationship between disaster-related prenatal maternal stress and autism spectrum disorder traits: The QF2011 Queensland flood study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 November 2018

David P. Laplante ,
Gabrielle Simcock ,
Lei Cao-Lei ,
Maya Mouallem ,
Guillaume Elgbeili ,
Alain Brunet ,
Vanessa Cobham ,
Sue Kildea  and
Suzanne King
David P. Laplante
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
Gabrielle Simcock
Affiliation:
Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Lei Cao-Lei
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Maya Mouallem
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
Guillaume Elgbeili
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
Alain Brunet
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
Vanessa Cobham
Affiliation:
Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Sue Kildea
Affiliation:
Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
Suzanne King*
Affiliation:
Douglas Institute Research Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Suzanne King, Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, 6875 LaSalle Blvd., Verdun, QC H4H 1R3; E-mail: suzanne.king@mcgill.ca
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Abstract

The 5-HTTLPR polymorphism of the serotonin transporter has been shown to play a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Moreover, disaster-related prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) has also been shown to be associated with ASD. However, no study to date has examined whether these two factors, either individually or in combination, are predictive of ASD traits in the same sample. We hypothesized that children, particularly boys, with the LL genotype exposed to high levels of disaster-related PNMS would exhibit higher levels of ASD traits compared to boys with the LS or SS genotypes and girls regardless of genotype. Genotype and ASD levels obtained using the Australian normed Autism Spectrum Rating Scales – Short Form were available for 105 30-month-old children exposed to varying levels of PNMS following the 2011 Queensland Flood. For boys, higher ASD traits were associated with the 5-HTTLPR LL genotype in combination with either a negative maternal appraisal of the flood, or high levels of maternal composite subjective stress, PSTD-like or peritraumatic dissociation symptoms. For girls, maternal peritraumatic dissociation levels in combination with the 5-HTTLPR LS or SS genotype were associated with higher ASD traits. The present findings are the first to demonstrate that children’s genotype moderates effects of disaster-related PNMS on ASD traits, with different pattern according to child sex.

Keywords

Disaster-related prenatal maternal stress5-HTTLPR polymorphismautism spectrum disorderchildren
Type
Regular Articles
Information
Development and Psychopathology , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , October 2019 , pp. 1395 - 1409
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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