How Does Maternal Psychological Distress Affect Fetal Immunity?

Abstract

As society becomes increasingly fast-paced, it feels like psychological stress becomes more of a constant presence. I wanted to dive into the effects of high stress levels during and directly following pregnancy, which are often linked to depression and anxiety, on the immune system of offspring. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a well-established bridge between stress and immunological function, aiming to restore homeostasis in the face of stress through a negative feedback loop that reduces the immune response, prioritizing survival above all else. In pregnant mothers, this HPA response may also influence the fetal immune system. Secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) is an antibody that may be reduced in mothers due to this stress response. sIgA, which is most often passed from mother to infant through breastfeeding, helps protect the infant from infection until they can produce their own IgA. Reduced sIgA in the first year of life may lead to a higher risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal illnesses, as well as allergic disorders. This research focuses on how both maternal and fetal sIgA levels are affected by maternal stress, and how this manifests itself through infectious illnesses.