Maternal distress and child neuroendocrine and immune regulation.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Neuroendocrine-immune regulation is essential for maintaining health. Early-life adversity may cause dysregulation in the neuroendocrine-immune network through repeated activation of the stress response, thereby increasing disease risk.

Objective

This paper examined the extent to which maternal psychological well-being moderates neuroendocrine-immune relations in children.

Methods

We used data from a laboratory-based study of mothers and their five-year old children (n = 125 mother-child pairs) conducted from 2011 to 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. Child saliva was assayed for markers of immune function (i.e., cytokines: interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal activity (i.e., cortisol). A composit

SUBMITTER: Riis JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4766032 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature