Sex-Specific Pathways From Prenatal Maternal Inflammation to Adolescent Depressive Symptoms

• DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2023.5458
• Publication Date: 2024-02-07T16:02:09Z
• Authors: Emily Lipner; Naoise Mac Giolla...; Elizabeth C. Breen; Barbara A. Cohn; Nickilou Y. Krigbaum; Piera M. Cirillo; Thomas M. Olino; Lauren B. Alloy; Lauren M. Ellman
• Keywords: Depression; Prenatal Care

Importance Prenatal maternal inflammation has been associated with major depressive disorder in offspring adulthood as well internalizing and externalizing symptoms childhood; however, the association between prenatal depression adolescence yet to be examined. Objective To determine whether levels of inflammatory biomarkers during pregnancy are symptomatology adolescent-aged examine how gestational timing, sex, childhood psychiatric impact these associations. Design, Setting, Participants This was an observational study a population-based birth cohort from Child Health Development Studies (CHDS), which recruited almost all mothers receiving obstetric care Kaiser Foundation Plan (KFHP) Alameda County, California, June 1959 September 1966. Pregnancy data blood sera were collected mothers, symptom (ages 9-11 years) 15-17 years). Mother-offspring dyads available first and/or second trimesters at adolescent follow-up included. Data analyses took place March 2020 2023. Exposures Levels (interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist [IL-1RA], soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-II) assayed pregnancy. Main Outcomes Measures Self-reported follow-up. Results A total 674 (mean [SD] age, 28.1 [5.9] their (350 male 325 female) included this study. Higher trimester IL-6 significantly greater ( b , 0.57; SE, 0.26); P = .03). Moderated mediation showed that mediated 0.18; 95% CI, 0.02-0.47), while IL-1RA female 0.80; 0.19-1.75). Conclusions Relevance In study, offspring. The findings suggest pathways risk factors may differ based on both timing exposure sex.