Developmental Properties of Oxidative Stress

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: PS 10 Topic - Biological Processes: Psychophysiology

Abstract

Early adverse experiences (e.g., child maltreatment, neglect) have been associated with increased lifetime risk of deleterious health outcomes, spanning across physical conditions (e.g., diabetes, cancer) and mental illnesses (e.g., depression) (Danese & Lewis, 2017). Delineating the putative molecular mechanisms linking adversity to later-onset health deterioration is critical. Metabolic processes, such as oxidative stress, are a putative biological system critical to the stress-health relationship (Picard & McEwen, 2018). Elevated isoprostane (IsoP) concentration is a meaningful indicator of oxidative stress in the body; however, it is not routinely utilized in diagnosis or assessment. One barrier to more widespread use of this measure is limited knowledge of important developmental properties, including associations with age, body mass index, and the influence of the primary caregiver’s IsoP concentration. In the current study, we investigate associations between oxidative stress (i.e., IsoP concentration) and developmental and lifestyle factors in a sample of preschool and young school-aged children and their caregivers. The study N=99 children and caregivers recruited from two samples: 1) a low SES community-based sample of mothers and children (aged 3-5) and 2) a sample of maltreating parents and children (aged 3-7) recruited from Child Protective Services (CPS) to participate in a randomized clinical trial for a parenting intervention. Aim 1 was to examine the associations between child IsoP and child age, child sex, child race and ethnicity, and child body mass index. Aim 2 was to determine the strength of the association between child IsoP and primary caregiver IsoP levels. Aim 3 was an exploratory aim to investigate the degree to which child adverse experiences are associated with child IsoP levels. Ordinary least square regression models were run. Child and caregiver IsoP levels were positively skewed and normalized via log10 transformation. For Aim 1, we observed a significant inverse correlation between child age and child IsoP Levels (r= -.257, p=.010), such that younger children had higher observed IsoP concentrations. Child body mass index was positively correlated with child IsoP levels (r= .237, p = .039). We did not observe significant correlations between child IsoP and child sex or race and ethnicity (p>.05). For Aim 2, we found a significant positive correlation between caregiver IsoP and child IsoP (r= .242, p-.016). For Aim 3, we did not find support for a correlation between child adversity and child IsoP levels. There were no observed group differences between the community-based sample versus maltreated sample (p>.05) nor was there a correlation observed between report of child adverse experiences (i.e., Adverse Childhood Experiences scale) and child IsoP levels. Results indicate that there are important developmental associations with child IsoP levels. To drive vertical progress in the field, future research should continue to investigate these key relationships. Further, establishing normative values and ranges will aid in the use of IsoP across clinical and research domains. Lastly, continuing to examine the degree to which early adversity may impact oxidative stress at different ages will be critical, as it is possible that harmful biological effects are detectable at later developmental stages.

Authors

• Sarah Horn, University of Oregon
  Presenting Author

• Tyson Barker, University of Oregon
  Non-Presenting Author

• Pat Levitt, University of Southern California
  Non-Presenting Author

• Elizabeth A. Skowron, University of Oregon
  Non-Presenting Author

• Philip Andrew Fisher, University of Oregon
  Non-Presenting Author