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The Cytokine, Chemokine, and Growth Factor Network of Prenatal Depression

Michael Maes1,2,3,4,5, Yoshiko Abe6,7, Wandee Sirichokchatchawan6,8

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, the Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Brain Sciences
|May 27, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Immune system activation, including M1 macrophage and T helper cell profiles, significantly impacts prenatal depression severity, independent of psychological factors. These immune changes are crucial for understanding and potentially treating perinatal mood disorders.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal mental health
  • Immunopsychiatry
  • Reproductive immunology

Background:

  • Neuro-immune pathways are implicated in antenatal and postpartum depression.
  • Perinatal depression presents a significant public health challenge.
  • Understanding contributing factors beyond psychological stressors is critical.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of immune profiles on prenatal depression severity.
  • To differentiate immune contributions from adverse childhood experiences (ACE), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and psychological stressors.
  • To identify specific immune markers associated with prenatal depressive symptoms.

Main Methods:

  • Assayed immune profiles (M1 macrophage, T helper cells, cytokines) in 120 pregnant females using the Bio-Plex Pro 27-plex assay.
  • Assessed immune inflammatory response system (IRS) and compensatory immunoregulatory system (CIRS) indicators.
  • Utilized the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) to measure antenatal depression severity.

Main Results:

  • A stress-immune-depression phenotype was identified, linked to upregulated M1, Th-1, Th-2, and IRS immune profiles and specific cytokines (e.g., IL-4, IL-6, IL-17).
  • Immune profiles, excluding CIRS, were significantly associated with early EPDS scores, independent of psychological variables and PMS.
  • Immune profiles shifted from early to late pregnancy, with the IRS/CIRS ratio increasing; late-stage depression was predicted by early scores, adverse experiences, and Th-2/Th-17 phenotypes.

Conclusions:

  • Activated immune phenotypes significantly contribute to early and late perinatal depressive symptoms.
  • Immune system activation plays a role in prenatal depression beyond psychological stressors and PMS.
  • Targeting immune pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for perinatal mood disorders.
Abstract

Keywords:
affective disorderscytokinesinflammationmajor depressionneuro-immunepsychiatry

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