Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles, United States; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, United States.
Brain Behav Immun. 2024 Feb;116:62-69. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.11.033. Epub 2023 Nov 26.
Experiencing symptoms of psychological distress during pregnancy is common and has been linked to dysregulated immune functioning. In this context, immunoregulatory function is especially relevant because of its crucial role in establishment and maintenance of healthy pregnancy. However, little research has examined associations between women's prenatal psychological distress and immunoregulatory biomarkers. We investigated how symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress relate to circulating levels of regulatory T-cells (Tregs).
Pregnant Latina women were assessed at around 12 weeks of pregnancy (N = 82). These assessments included blood draws and self-report questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression, state anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety, and perceived stress. Flow cytometry on PBMCs was used to quantify circulating Tregs, defined as CD3CD4CD25CD127FoxP3, and subpopulations positive for one of the following intra- or extracellular markers, CD45RA, CTLA-4, Helios, PD-1, TIM-3, and TIGIT. We collected 82 samples at 12 weeks. Multivariable linear regressions tested for associations between symptoms of psychological distress and Treg concentrations, adjusted for gestational age.
State anxiety symptoms at 12 weeks were negatively associated with parent Treg cell levels (b = -4.02, p = 0.023) and subpopulations Helios (b = -3.29, p = 0.019) and TIM3 (b = -3.17, p = 0.008). Perceived stress was negatively associated with the PD-1 subpopulation at 12 weeks (b = -4.02, p = 0.023). Depression was not related to Tregs or the subpopulations.
Our observation that symptoms of anxiety and stress are related to tolerogenic immunology suggests a possible biomechanism explaining correlations of maternal mood disorders with adverse outcomes for mothers and offspring.
孕妇出现心理困扰症状较为常见，且与免疫功能失调有关。在此背景下，免疫调节功能尤为重要，因为它在建立和维持健康妊娠中起着关键作用。然而，很少有研究调查孕妇产前心理困扰与免疫调节生物标志物之间的关系。我们研究了抑郁、焦虑和压力症状与调节性 T 细胞（Treg）的循环水平之间的关系。
大约在妊娠 12 周时评估了怀孕的拉丁裔女性（N=82）。这些评估包括血液采集和自我报告的问卷，评估抑郁、状态焦虑、妊娠相关焦虑和感知压力的症状。使用 PBMCs 的流式细胞术来定量循环 Tregs，定义为 CD3+CD4+CD25+CD127-FoxP3+，以及一个或多个以下细胞内或细胞外标志物阳性的亚群，包括 CD45RA、CTLA-4、Helios、PD-1、TIM-3 和 TIGIT。我们在 12 周时收集了 82 个样本。多变量线性回归测试了 12 周时心理困扰症状与 Treg 浓度之间的关系，调整了胎龄。
12 周时的状态焦虑症状与亲本 Treg 细胞水平呈负相关（b=-4.02，p=0.023），与 Helios（b=-3.29，p=0.019）和 TIM3（b=-3.17，p=0.008）亚群呈负相关。感知压力与 12 周时的 PD-1 亚群呈负相关（b=-4.02，p=0.023）。抑郁与 Tregs 或亚群无关。
我们观察到焦虑和压力症状与耐受免疫有关，这表明了一种可能的生物学机制，解释了母体情绪障碍与母婴不良结局之间的相关性。
