Abstract
Risk for depression increases during the perinatal period due to several biological and physiological changes, including fluctuations in inflammation. However, the timing and cytokine-specific effects on depressive symptoms during and after pregnancy are unclear. In this study, we examined relations between four cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α) and depression at multiple time points throughout the perinatal period and investigated the role of dimensions of depressive symptoms in these relationships. We used longitudinal data of 314 mothers in the Early Life Adversity and Biological Embedding Study from the first trimester of pregnancy to the end of the first year postpartum. Multiple linear regressions examined the relationships between cytokines and maternal depressive symptoms. Specifically, we investigated these relationships throughout pregnancy, using cytokine slopes and symptoms averaged across trimesters, in the third trimester, and by measuring changes from the second to third trimester. Then, we investigated whether cytokines levels predicted depressive symptoms at future time points, including postnatally. Analyses with the same model structure looking at different symptom dimensions were adjusted using multiple comparison procedures (FDR). Cytokine levels were not associated with total depression scores. IL-6 levels and anhedonia symptoms were positively associated in the third trimester (β = 0.10, p = 0.02, q = 0.04). More positive TNF-α slopes across pregnancy, indicating increasing levels of TNF-α over time, were associated with greater average prenatal anhedonia (β = 0.84, p = 0.02, q = 0.05). Increases in IL-6 from the second to third trimester predicted less postnatal anxiety (β = -0.16, p = 0.01, q = 0.02), whereas increases in TNF-α from the second to third trimester predicted greater third-trimester anxiety and depression (β = 0.08, p = 0.03, q = 0.05, β = 0.09, p = 0.01, q = 0.03). We did not find significant relationships between IL-8 and IL-10 and depressive symptoms at any time point (ps = 0.08-0.97). Findings provide additional evidence for the role of IL-6 and TNF-α in perinatal depression. Anhedonia symptoms and third-trimester inflammation may be particularly important. Future work focusing on dimensions of depressive symptoms and inflammatory processes across the perinatal period is key to elucidating specific temporal associations. Further investigation of how changes in inflammation across pregnancy relate to specific types of depressive symptoms could inform and improve perinatal care and intervention.
Committee Chair
Deanna Barch, PhD
Committee Members
Ryan Bogdan, PhD Renee Thompson, PhD
Degree
Master of Arts (AM/MA)
Author's Department
Psychology
Document Type
Thesis
Date of Award
Spring 5-2025
Language
English (en)
Recommended Citation
Redic, Margaret M., "Associations between Prenatal Inflammation and Dimensions of Depressive Symptoms across the Perinatal Period" (2025). Arts & Sciences Theses and Dissertations. 3661.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/3661