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Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring
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Generating a Reproducible Model of Mid-Gestational Maternal Immune Activation using PolyI:C to Study Susceptibility and Resilience in Offspring

Published on: August 17, 2022

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Immune activity at birth and later psychopathology in childhood

Susana Barbosa1,2, Olfa Khalfallah1,2, Anne Forhan3

  • 1Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France.

Brain, Behavior, & Immunity - Health
|September 30, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Cytokine levels at birth, including CXCL10 and IL-10, are linked to childhood psychopathology. Specific cytokines show positive or negative associations with emotional, conduct, and peer problems in children.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Neurodevelopmental disruptions can lead to psychopathology.
  • Preclinical data suggest immune system involvement in neurodevelopment.
  • Limited research explores specific cytokine associations with childhood psychopathology at birth.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cytokine levels in umbilical cord blood at birth and psychopathological dimensions in 5-year-old children.
  • To identify specific cytokines that may influence neurodevelopmental trajectories and psychopathology risk.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 27 cytokines in umbilical cord blood sera from 869 mother-child pairs in the French EDEN cohort.
  • Assessment of five psychopathological dimensions in children using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) at age 5.
  • Statistical exploration of associations between cytokine levels and SDQ scores.

Main Results:

  • Five cytokines (CXCL10, IL-10, IL-12p40, CCL11, IL-17A) were positively associated with various psychopathological dimensions.
  • Seven cytokines (IL-7, IL-15, TNF-β, CCL4, IL-6, CCL26, TNF-α) were negatively associated with psychopathology.
  • Specific cytokine associations were observed for emotional symptoms, conduct problems, peer relationship problems, and prosocial behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Findings support the role of cytokines in human neurodevelopment and psychopathology risk.
  • Specific cytokines measured at birth may serve as potential biomarkers for neurodevelopmental outcomes.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the causal mechanisms linking cytokines to psychopathology.

Keywords:
BehaviorCytokinesInflammationMother-child cohortNeurodevelopmentPsychopathology

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