Effects of maltreatment on cortisol and inflammatory analytes

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as maltreatment have been associated with a disease risk phenotype that is characterized by altered regulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐axis (HPA) and elevated pro‐inflammatory cytokines. However, there is evidence that different subtypes of ACEs elicit different physiological profiles. More specifically children with a history of physical abuse have lower cortisol levels whereas children with a history of sexual abuse have elevated cortisol levels compared to those in other maltreatment and non‐abused subgroups. The objective of the present study was to investigate if different maltreatment exposures, specifically physical and sexual abuse, are associated with HPA axis and inflammation by measuring levels of cortisol and inflammatory analytes. This study examines 156 young adults using the pilot data from the Niagara Longitudinal Heart Study (NLHS). Inflammatory analytes were assessed with blood serum. Retrospective chronic cortisol was measured through hair taken from the back of the scalp. Maltreatment was self‐reported using the Childhood Trust Event survey questionnaire. The NLHS study was approved by the Brock University’s Research Ethic Board. All analysis of variance models were not statistically significant. Those who reported sexual abuse had the highest cortisol levels. Those who reported physical abuse had the lowest cortisol levels compared to other subtypes. Interleukin 6 (IL6), C‐reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and 2 (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) levels were higher among those with physical and sexual exposure compared to other subtypes. Levels of interleukin 6 receptor α (IL6Rα), glycoprotein (gp130), and interferon γ (IFNγ) were similar across all subtypes. The direction of cortisol levels pertaining to the subtypes of ACEs in the present study was consistent with the literature where physical abuse was linked to lower cortisol levels and sexual abuse was related to higher cortisol levels. Both physical and sexual abuse were trending towards statistical significance to some inflammatory analytes but not others. As the current pilot sample is underpowered for the effect sizes of cortisol and inflammatory analytes, the models used in analysis are likely to achieve statistical significance in a larger sample.Support or Funding InformationThe NLHS is funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR #s 363774, 399332). ARRM is supported by the Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) program.