Childhood aggression, callous-unemotional traits and oxytocin genes

Abstract

Given the known behavior effects of oxytocin,and in particular its putative effect on trust, affiliation and anxiety, we hypothesized that oxytocin may be involved in the development and expression of callous-unemotional traits in children with aggressive antisocial behavior. We recruited 162 children between the ages of 6 and 16. The majority of subjects were Caucasian (84.0%) compared to African-Canadian (4.9%) and others (11.1%). The oxytocin and oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms were genotyped and analyzed for possible association with child aggression in a case–control study design as well as with callous-unemotional traits in a within cases analysis. We did not have significant findings with our tested OXTR markers in the case–control analysis. We found the OXTR_rs237885 AA genotype carriers to score higher than AC or CC genotype carriers on the callous-unemotional traits. This result remained significant following correction for multiple testing. No other markers were found to be significant. However, the haplotype consisting of the OXTR_rs237885 A allele and OXTR_rs2268493 A allele was associated with significantly higher callous-unemotionals cores than other haplotypes. This is the first known study to show a significant association between callous unemotional traits in children and adolescents with extreme, persistent pervasive aggression and a polymorphism on the oxytocin receptor. Given the small sample size and the possibility of false positive effects, the need to replicate and verify these findings is required.

A longitudinal twin study of callous-unemotional traits during childhood.

“…In this regard, our current knowledge of the genomic underpinnings of CU traits is limited. Several genes have been linked to CU traits (e.g., Beitchman et al, 2012;Fowler et al, 2009), but none of their variants has been implicated in genome-wide analyses of CU traits (Viding et al, , 2013. A more profitable avenue in the short-term would be to examine how genetic factors manifest more directly through cognitive-affective endophenotypes, such as atypical affective processing (see Viding & McCrory, 2015), with particular attention to how these endophenotypes' contributions to CU traits vary in earlier vs. later childhood.…”

Development of Psychopathy from Childhood

“…Additionally, they explored also MAO-A and 5-HTT genes among adolescents (ages 12-19) with childhood ADHD, they demonstrated that the high activity COMT Val/Val genotype, a low activity monoamine oxidase-a receptor (MAO-A) allele, and who were homozygous for the low activity serotonin transporter (5-HTT) allele signiicantly higher associated with CU traits [55]. In another study of 162 children and adolescents (ages 6-16), CU traits were associated with two polymorphisms on the oxytocin receptor (OSTR) gene [56]. Finally, in a recent study, Hirata et al explore the role of prolactin and prolactin receptor gene (PRLR) variants in child aggression and CU traits.…”

Relationship Between Oxytocin and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

“…Özellikle, düşük oksitosin beyin omurilik sıvısı (28), oksitosin reseptör geninin (OXTR) işlevsel polimorfizmlerinde ortaya çıkan kayıp (29,30) ve oksitosin reseptör geni promoterinde (transkripsiyonu başlatan kısım) epigenetik susturma (metilasyon) genç erkeklerde dürtüsel ve saldırgan mizaçla, kişiler arası şiddet ve acımasız-duygusuz özelliklerle ilişkili bulunmuştur (31). Benzer şekilde hayvan çalışmaları alanındaki veriler, sosyal davranışsal yanıt düzenlenmesinde santral oksitosinerjik kontrolünün önemini güçlendirmiştir.…”