Research articleCatechol-O-Methyltransferase gene (val158met) polymorphisms and anxious symptoms in early childhood: The roles of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis reactivity and life stress

- Early childhood cortisol response is associated with COMT val158met polymorphism.
- Interaction between val158met and life stress also predicted child anxiety symptoms.
- Cortisol response mediated the main-effect of COMT polymorphism on anxiety symptoms.
- Val158Met acts as a moderator of early life stress' influence on childhood behaviour.

Individual differences in hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to stress (measured via salivary cortisol) have been widely implicated in the etiology of internalizing problems such as depression and anxiety. Literature suggests that stress during early childhood is an important source of contextual risk although its effects may be moderated by polymorphisms of neurotransmitter genes. The COMT val158met is one such polymorphism, and literature documents its link to internalizing problems. To extend these findings, and to better understand the role of this polymorphism in developmental risk, we investigated links between the val158met polymorphism and early-age cortisol response. Additionally, we investigated whether cortisol reactivity mediated the link between COMT and emerging internalizing symptoms. The study was conducted in a community sample of 409 preschoolers. Saliva samples were collected pre-stress task (baseline) and every 10 min post-stress task for one-hour to asses cortisol response. Child anxious and depressive symptoms were tabulated based on parent-reports. Markers of early childhood stress included marital discord, socio-economic status and the UCLA Life Stress Interview. Findings indicated that the val158met polymorphism is associated with childhood cortisol response (p < 0.05). A gene-environment interaction between val158met and life stress also predicted child anxiety symptoms (p < 0.01). Finally, cortisol response mediated the main-effect of val158met on child anxiety symptoms (pathway ps < 0.05). Analyses suggest that COMT val158met moderates the influence of early life stress on preschool-age symptoms of anxiety. Additionally, cortisol reactivity acts as a mechanistic mediator of the main-effect of COMT genotype on child anxious symptoms.