Influence of prenatal maternal stress on umbilical cord blood cytokine levels

Abstract

Purpose Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is known to influence fetal programming and development. Thus far, the effects of PNMS on the developing immune system have mainly been documented in animal studies. This study aimed to examine the association between PNMS and immune cytokine profiles in the umbilical cord blood of newborn human infants. Methods PNMS, including perceived stress, numbers of stressful life events experiences (both partner and health related), and state and trait anxiety, was assessed with five questionnaires and interviews from 43 pregnant women during the second trimester. Seven key cytokines important for immune function, i.e., IL-12, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α, were analyzed in cord blood by bead-based ELISA method (Luminex 200). Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations of PNMS scores and cytokine levels. Results Increased levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-8 were significantly associated with at least one of the maternal stress assessments, while the levels of IL-12 and TNF-α were not significantly associated with any of the PNMS measurements examined. Conclusion These preliminary findings suggest that PNMS may influence cytokine levels in newborn infants, in particular Th2-related cytokines. This report supports previous findings in animal studies and could suggest that newborns born to mothers with elevated PNMS have a predisposition to immune-related disorders.

European task force on atopic dermatitis position paper: treatment of parental atopic dermatitis during preconception, pregnancy and lactation period

“…Interestingly, some studies have indicated that maternal stress during pregnancy may play a significant role in the development of AD in offspring. It is possible that in cases where pregnant women suffer not only from AD but also from depression or psychosomatic disorders, the offspring have a significantly higher risk of developing AD up to the age of 18–20 years . Possible psycho‐immunological pathways are changes in cytokine levels or oxidative stress transferred by the placenta .…”

Antenatal endogenous and exogenous glucocorticoids and their impact on immune ontogeny and long-term immunity

“…For example, studies that have measured interleukin (IL)-6 in cord blood report decreased [117] or unchanged [118,119] IL-6 levels in response to the same prenatal dose of betamethasone. In another study in which second trimester maternal stress perception occurred, IL-6 levels increased [120]. The discrepancies between these studies could reflect the fact that cohorts exposed to antenatal steroids often include preterm neonates, in whom the immune system is still immature, in contrast to prenatally stressed neonates, largely born at term.…”

Prenatal maternal psychosocial stress and offspring's asthma and allergic disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…No experimental studies were found; therefore only analytical epidemiological studies were included, which comprised of 27 cohort studies, two case-control studies, and one cross-sectional study. The type of psychosocial stress indicators investigated in the studies included anxiety, [21][22][23][24]27,30,35,36,48,49 depression, [22][23][24]30,35,37,41,42 bereavemet, 29,32,38 work-related stress, 33,36,47,48 and NLEs, 19,20,25,26,28,31,34,39,40,[43][44][45][46]49,50 which were usually comprised of a composite of different indicators of stressors. Most studies assessed maternal stress using self-completed validated questionnaire; in a few studies maternal stress was assessed from population registers, particularly stress resulting from bereavement of a family member.…”

“…Most studies assessed maternal stress using self-completed validated questionnaire; in a few studies maternal stress was assessed from population registers, particularly stress resulting from bereavement of a family member. Twelve studies assessed the impact of maternal stress on asthma, 20,[27][28][29][30][31][32]34,37,38,42,46 eight studies on atopic eczema/dermatitis, [22][23][24]28,31,44,47,48 ten studies on wheeze, 20,[24][25][26][27][28]30,35,42,43,46 three studies on allergic rhinitis, 24,28,31 three on atopic sensitization, 27,31,42 and six studies on cord blood IgE or cytokines 19,21,36,39,45,50 (Table S1).…”