title: Prenatal maternal anxiety predicts reduced adaptive immunity in infants.
abstract: Prenatal anxiety has been linked with altered immune function in offspring in animal studies, but the relevance for human health is unknown. We examined prenatal maternal anxiety as a predictor of adaptive immunity in infants at 2 and 6 months of age as part of a prospective longitudinal study. The humoral immune response to hepatitis B vaccine was assessed at 2 months (n=80) and 6 months (n=76) of age. Prenatal anxiety predicted lower hepatitis B antibody titers at 6 months of age independent of obstetric and socio-demographic covariates; the effects were limited to those infants who had not completed the 3-dose vaccine series (for transformed titer values, r=-.36, p<.05). Cell-mediated immune responses at 2 (n=56) and 6 (n=54) months of age were examined by ELISpot assays for interferon(IFN)-γ, interleukin(IL)-2, and IL-4 responder cell frequencies to three antigens: hepatitis B surface antigen, tetanus toxoid, and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Prenatal maternal anxiety was associated with reduced IFN-γ and increased IL-4 responder cell frequencies at 6 months of age, independent of obstetric and socio-demographic covariates. No effect of prenatal anxiety was found on adaptive immunity at 2 months of age. The findings provide the first demonstration in humans that prenatal anxiety alters adaptive immunity in the infant.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA. Tom_OConnor@URMC.Rochester.edu
authors: Thomas G
authors: TG
authors: O'Connor
authors: Marcia A
authors: MA
authors: Winter
authors: Julianne
authors: J
authors: Hunn
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Carnahan
authors: Eva K
authors: EK
authors: Pressman
authors: Vivette
authors: V
authors: Glover
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Robertson-Blackmore
authors: Jan A
authors: JA
authors: Moynihan
authors: F Eun-Hyung
authors: FE
authors: Lee
authors: Mary T
authors: MT
authors: Caserta
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006505:Hepatitis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007114:Immunization; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006854:Hydrocortisone