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Cytokine profile and maternal depression and anxiety symptoms in mid-pregnancy—the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study

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Abstract

Maternal prenatal psychological symptoms are associated with child health outcomes, e.g., atopic diseases. Altered prenatal functioning of the immune system is a potential mechanism linking maternal symptoms with child health. Research on prenatal distress and cytokines is warranted. The study population comprised consecutive N = 139 women from a general population-based FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Standardized questionnaires for depressive, overall anxiety, and pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms were used. Serum concentrations of selected cytokines were analyzed using Multiplex bead arrays from samples drawn at the gestational week 24. The concentrations of T helper (Th)2-related interleukins (IL)-9 and IL-13 and Th1-related IL-12 correlated positively with prenatal depressive and overall anxiety symptom scores (p values, range 0.011–0.029). Higher interferon (IFN)-γ/IL-4 ratio (p = 0.039) and Th2-related IL-5 (p = 0.007) concentration correlated positively with depressive symptoms. Pregnancy-related anxiety score correlated positively with IL-12 (p = 0.041), IL-13 (p = 0.025), and anti-inflammatory IL-10 (p = 0.048) concentrations. IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations were unrelated to prenatal symptoms. As a novel finding, we observed positive correlations between concentrations of potentially proallergenic cytokines and maternal prenatal psychological symptoms. Different symptom measures may yield distinct cytokine responses. This provides hypotheses for studies on mechanisms bridging prenatal stress and child health.

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Acknowledgments

Mrs. Teija Kanasuo is thanked for her excellent technical assistance. LK was supported by the Brain and Behavior Foundation Young Investigator Grant, and by grants from the Gyllenberg Foundation and the Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation. SML was supported by a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Paulo Foundation. NMS was supported by grants from the Gyllenberg Foundation, Finnish Cultural Foundation, and Maud Kuistila Foundation. NN was supported by grants from the Gyllenberg Foundation and Finnish Foundation for Pediatric Research. HK and the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study have been supported by grants from the Academy of Finland and the Gyllenberg Foundation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland

    Linnea Karlsson, Niko Nousiainen, Noora M. Scheinin, Mimmi Tolvanen & Hasse Karlsson

  2. Lehmustie 12 b, 20720, Turku, Finland

    Linnea Karlsson

  3. Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Linnea Karlsson

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Noora M. Scheinin & Hasse Karlsson

  5. MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Mikael Maksimow & Marko Salmi

  6. Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Turku, Finland

    Marko Salmi

  7. Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

    Soili M. Lehto

  8. Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland

    Soili M. Lehto

  9. Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland

    Mimmi Tolvanen

  10. Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland

    Heikki Lukkarinen

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  1. Linnea Karlsson
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Correspondence to Linnea Karlsson.

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Karlsson, L., Nousiainen, N., Scheinin, N.M. et al. Cytokine profile and maternal depression and anxiety symptoms in mid-pregnancy—the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. Arch Womens Ment Health 20, 39–48 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00737-016-0672-y

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