Dataset Information

T-cell defects and postpartum depression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Most studies of immune dysregulation in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders have focused on peripheral cytokines, but literature from non-perinatal mood disorders also implicates T-cell defects. We sought to characterize proportions of T-cell subtypes in women with postpartum depression.

Materials and methods

We enrolled 21 women with postpartum depression (PPD), 39 healthy postpartum controls, and 114 healthy non-postpartum women. Blood was collected in sodium-heparin EDTA tubes and was analyzed using flow cytometry. We conducted statistical tests including linear regression analysis that were aimed at determining differences in proportions of T cell populations among groups.

Results

Mean counts of T-cells (all CD3+ T cells), T-helper cells, (CD3+CD4+ T cells), and T-cytotoxic cells (CD3+CD8+ T cells) were significantly increased in healthy postpartum women compared to healthy non-postpartum controls (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, and p = 0.002, respectively), but not in women with PPD. The increases in healthy postpartum women were driven by increases in T_H1 cells and T regulatory cells, increases that were nonexistent or attenuated in women with postpartum depression. Mean counts of CD4+ T-helper memory cells were also increased in healthy postpartum women (p = 0.009), but slightly decreased in women with PPD (p = 0.066), when compared to healthy non-postpartum controls.

Conclusions

Our study confirms that the postpartum period in healthy women is a time of enhanced T cell activity. Women with postpartum depression failed to show physiological enhanced T-cell activity postpartum, and future research is needed to elucidate etiological mechanisms and consequences.

SUBMITTER: Osborne LM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7316619 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:IntroductionPostpartum depression (PPD) is a severe psychiatric disorder that negatively affects postnatal mothers worldwide. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between postpartum pain sensitivity and PPD as well as to identify the other potential risk factors for PPD and their interconnections.MethodsThe current study was a prospective observational clinical study that enrolled 210 singleton pregnant women in a tertiary referral hospital from January to December 2020. Postpartum pain sensitivity was assessed by the Mandarin Chinese version of the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire (PSQ), and PSQ-C-total and PSQ-C-minor scores were collected. PPD was screened by self-reporting Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and EPDS total score was recorded. The association between postpartum pain sensitivity and PPD, as well as the risk factors and their interconnections, was analyzed by using a combination of stratified, bivariate, correlation, receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve, multivariate logistic regression, and path analysis.ResultsOverall, 87 of 210 mothers (41.4%) screened positive for PPD. A positive correlation between PSQ-C-total (r = 0.67) or PSQ-C-minor (r = 0.62) and EPDS scores was identified. PSQ-C-total [area under curve (AUC) 0.89, 95% CI 0.84-0.93; P < 0.0001] showed significantly higher diagnostic accuracy compared with PSQ-C-minor (AUC 0.85, 95% CI 0.80-0.90; P < 0.0001) in predicting EPDS scores ≥ 10 points. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that a high PSQ-C-total score [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.12, 95% CI 1.08-1.51; P < 0.001] and gestational diabetes (adjusted OR 2.68, 95% CI 0.96-7.47; P = 0.045) were independent risk factors, while breastfeeding (adjusted OR: 0.34, 95% CI 0.15-0.78; P = 0.007) and normal birth weight (adjusted OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05-0.61; P = 0.0047) were independently associated with decreasing adjusted ORs for EPDS scores ≥ 10 points. The path analysis model indicated that PSQ-C-total scores and gestational diabetes showed bidirectional effects, while birth weight and breastfeeding only had a direct impact on EPDS scores ≥ 10 points.ConclusionIncreased postpartum pain sensitivity was closely associated with EPDS scores ≥ 10 points, and PSQ-C scores could be a reliable predictor. Moreover, gestational diabetes, low occurrence of breastfeeding, and low birth weight were the risk factors for EPDS scores ≥ 10 points.Trial registrationChiCTR.org.cn identifier, ChiCTR-2000033091.