Researcher(s)
- Amanda Jose, Neuroscience, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Tania Roth, Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware
Abstract
The prevalence of opioid use during pregnancy within the United States has significantly increased throughout the years, with an estimated 131% increase from 2010 to 2017 (Hirai et al., 2021). Infants that are born with prenatal opioid exposure (POE) may experience deficits in biological regulation, (Smith and Lipari, 2017). Additionally, opioid usage can alter caregiving between mother-infant dyads, leading to high rates of disorganized and insecure attachment of the child (Hatzis et al., 2017). These attachment types often act as a powerful predictor of a child’s later social and emotional outcomes, highlighting the importance of intervention (Benoit, 2004). The ABC intervention was created to enhance sensitive caregiving among parents caring for children with histories of adversity. Because DNA methylation is highly sensitive to early life experiences (e.g., caregiving) and can have long-lasting impacts on gene expression, it is essential to have interventions that positively affect epigenetic mechanisms. Specifically, the level of methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) is associated with attachment security in adulthood (Ebner et al. 2019). The current study, under the principal investigators Dr. Tania Roth and Dr. Mary Dozier, aims to assess changes to OXTR methylation patterns among infants born to individuals receiving opioid agonist therapy immediately preceding and/or following delivery. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: modified ABC (mABC) or Developmental Education for Families (DEF). Saliva samples were collected from children at 6 and 12-months of age. Methylation of OXTR DNA isolated from saliva samples will be assessed by sequencing bisulfite-treated DNA using primers targeting OXTR and other gene targets as time allows. Preliminary results show that methylation of OXTR3 does not seem to be affected by mABC intervention or time point of sample collection. However, OXTR3 methylation at 6 and 12 months significantly predicted maternal sensitivity. Methylation at 6-months was negatively correlated with maternal sensitivity, while positively correlated at 12-months. Data collections are ongoing and we expect that clearer relationships between groups may emerge as we finalize our data analysis.