Poster #17 - Infant gut microbiota composition associates with negative reactivity and fear in a sex-specific manner

• In Event: Poster Session 14

Abstract

Brain development, behaviour and emotional outcomes have been shown to be influenced by the gut microbiota, (Morais, Schreiber, & Mazmanian, 2020). In addition, gut microbiota composition in early life (GMC) has previously been linked to child temperament (Aatsinki et al., 2019). In terms of temperament, higher negative reactivity is an especially pertinent trait, and a potential transdiagnostic risk factor that has consistently been associated with various types of psychopathology, such as internalizing and externalizing symptoms, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder later in life (Kostyrka‐Allchorne et al., 2019). Fear reactivity, a trait with a partially different trajectory from other negative reactivity traits, is suggested to predict later anxiety and convey risk for internalizing problems (Buss & McDoniel, 2016). Thus, higher negative reactivity and fear can be considered intermediate phenotypes crucial for later mental health. Additionally, due to the early emergence of these phenotypes, they may be used indicators for the need for early intervention with a focus on the gut microbiota.
The aim of this study was to examine the associations of GMC at 2.5 months of age and both observed and reported child negative reactivity and fear reactivity at 8 and 12 months of age. In addition, we investigated the potential differential role of sex on these associations.
Our study population was 330 infants enrolled into the longitudinal FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study (Karlsson et al., 2018). GMC was analysed from stool samples using 16s rRNA sequencing and negative reactivity and fear reactivity were assessed using the Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery (Lab-TAB) (Goldsmith & Rothbart, 1999) when each child was 8 months old and maternal reports using the Infant Behavior Questionnaire-Revised Short Form (IBQ-R) (Putnam, Helbig, Gartstein, Rothbart, & Leerkes, 2014) when the children were 12 months of age.
We found sex-specific associations between alpha diversity (which describes the species diversity within a subject) and reported fear reactivity as well as observed negative reactivity. The overall composition, i.e. beta diversity, meaning differences in the overall composition of microbiota between subjects, was associated with reported and observed negative reactivity for boys (see Figure 1.). We did not observe any associations between temperament traits and the major short chain fatty acids (SCFA). However, in an adjusted linear model, log-transformed isobutyric acid concentration was associated with negative reactivity. Finally, several genera were associated with temperament measurements with most prominent negative associations between genus [Ruminococcus] gnavus group and reported negative reactivity (LogFC=-2.1, p<.01) and fear (LogFC=-1.2, p<.05) and positive associations between genus Clostridium sensu stricto 1 and observed fear reactivity (LogFC=1.6, p<.01).
This study adds to the growing literature on infant GMC and temperament and highlights the possible sex-specificity in these associations. Large studies in children are extremely scarce and this project produces relevant and novel information about the human gut-brain axis development.

Authors

• Venla Huovinen, University of turku
  Presenting Author

• Anna Aatsinki

• Eeva-Leena Kataja

• Eveliina Munukka

• Anniina Keskitalo

• Santosh Lamichhane

• David J Bridgett, Northern Illinois University

• Leo Lahti

• Siobhain M O'Mahony

• Alex Dickens

• Riikka Korja, University of Turku

• Hasse Karlsson, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku

• Saara Nolvi, University of Turku

• Linnea Karlsson, University of Turku