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Prenatal negative life events increases cord blood I g E : interactions with dust mite allergen and maternal atopy
Author(s) -
Peters J. L.,
Cohen S.,
Staudenmayer J.,
Hosen J.,
PlattsMills T. A. E.,
Wright R. J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2012.02791.x
Subject(s) - atopy , cord blood , immunology , allergen , medicine , house dust mite , allergy , pregnancy , prenatal stress , sensitization , offspring , biology , genetics
Background Prenatal exposure to both stress and aeroallergens (dust mite) may modulate the fetal immune system. These exposures may interact to affect the newborn immune response. We examined associations between prenatal maternal stress and cord blood total IgE in 403 predominately low‐income minority infants enrolled in the A sthma C oalition on C ommunity, E nvironment, and S ocial S tress ( ACCESS ) project. We also examined potential modifying effects of maternal atopy and maternal dust mite exposure. Methods The C risis in F amily S ystems survey was administered to mothers prenatally, and a negative life event domain score was derived to characterize stress. Dust mite allergen was quantified in dust from pregnant mothers' bedrooms. Cord blood was analyzed for total I g E . Using linear regression, we modeled the relationship of stress with cord blood I g E and interactions of stress with dust mite and/or maternal atopy, adjusting for potential confounders. Results Higher prenatal maternal stress (β = 0.09; P = 0.01) was associated with increased cord blood I g E . The interactive effects between stress and dust mite groups (high vs low) were significantly different for children of atopic vs nonatopic mothers ( P for three‐way interaction = 0.005). Among children of atopic mothers, the positive association between stress and I g E was stronger in the high dust mite group. In children of mothers without a history of atopy, the positive association between stress and I g E was most evident in the low allergen group. Conclusions Prenatal stress was independently associated with elevated cord blood I g E . Mechanisms underlying stress effects on fetal immunomodulation may differ based on maternal atopic status.