Abstract # 3143 Inflammatory markers in postpartum depression – a sign of an exaggerated stress response?

Abstract

Compared with major depressive disorder, postpartum depression and its relation to immune activation and inflammation is less studied. Postpartum, after vast adaptations of the immune system during pregnancy, the immune system needs to return to a non-pregnant state, during a period of immune challenging events, such as wound healing, sleep loss, and a fall in levels of proteins and hormones. The study aim was to investigate potential differences in peripheral levels of immune related biomarkers in women with and without postpartum depression (n = 62 and 107 respectively). Among the 71 markers analyzed with multiplex proximity extension assay, five were significantly elevated in women with postpartum depressive symptoms in the adjusted LASSO logistic regression analysis, including TRANCE (OR = 1.20), HGF (OR = 1.17), IL-18 (OR = 1.06), FGF-23 (OR = 1.25), and CXCL1 (OR 1.11). Previously, HGF, IL-18 as well as FGF-23 have been reported lower in severe forms of depression while high levels of IL-18 and CXCL1 have been associated to stress responses. The delivery triggers stress-induced immune responses. Our results might be due to an elevated response to stress as immune reactions previously has been associated with exaggerated inflammation in women with depressive symptoms. Future research should evaluate the relevance of the identified markers, in combination with other known risk factors for postpartum depression. .