Prenatal maternal stress exposure and immune function in the offspring
Franz Veru1, David P Laplante, Giamal Luheshi
1Department of Psychiatry, McGill University , Montreal, QC , Canada and.
Stress (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
|January 15, 2014
Summary
Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) significantly impacts offspring immune system development, influencing parameters like lymphocyte counts and natural killer cell function. These effects are specific, varying by stressor details and offspring characteristics, potentially linking to allergies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental programming
- Immunotoxicology
- Maternal stress effects
Background:
- The intra-uterine environment is crucial for fetal development and postnatal adaptation.
- Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) can alter fetal programming, leading to maladaptation.
- Existing animal studies on PNMS and immune development yield inconsistent results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and integrate findings on PNMS and offspring immune function using a translational framework.
- To elucidate how stressor type, timing, duration, and offspring factors moderate these effects.
- To understand the implications of PNMS for immune-related disorders.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of literature on PNMS and immune function in offspring.
- Application of a translational framework based on developmental windows of vulnerability.
- Analysis of moderating influences: stressor characteristics, offspring species, sex, and age.
Main Results:
- PNMS effects are parameter-specific, with timing in gestation influencing lymphocyte numbers and immune cell functions.
- Significant and directional sexual dimorphism in immune responses was observed.
- Stressor type and duration effects mirrored those seen in non-pregnant animals.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal maternal stress is a key factor in immune system programming.
- PNMS can influence the development of immune-related disorders, such as allergies.
- Understanding these effects requires considering specific stressor and offspring variables.
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