title: Cytokine profile and maternal depression and anxiety symptoms in mid-pregnancy-the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.
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.
authors.affiliation: FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland. linnea.karlsson@utu.fi.|, Lehmustie 12 b, 20720, Turku, Finland. linnea.karlsson@utu.fi.|Department of Child Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland. linnea.karlsson@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Linnea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Niko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nousiainen
authors.affiliation: FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland.|Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Noora M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Scheinin
authors.affiliation: MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maksimow
authors.affiliation: MediCity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.|Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Marko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salmi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.|Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: Soili M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lehto
authors.affiliation: FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland.|Department of Community Dentistry, Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Mimmi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tolvanen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Heikki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lukkarinen
authors.affiliation: FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku, Lemminkäisenkatu 3a, 20014, Turku, Finland.|Department of Psychiatry, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Hasse
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karlsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003863:Depression / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Anxiety; Cytokines; Depression; Pregnancy anxiety; Prenatal