The Cytokine, Chemokine, and Growth Factor Network of Prenatal Depression.

Background: Neuro-immune pathways are engaged in antenatal and postpartum depression.

Aims: To determine if immune profiles influence the severity of prenatal depression above and beyond the effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACE), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and current psychological stressors.

Methods: Using the Bio-Plex Pro human cytokine 27-plex test kit, we assayed M1 macrophage, T helper (Th)-1, Th-2, Th-17, growth factor, chemokine, and T cell growth immune profiles as well as indicators of the immune inflammatory response system (IRS) and compensatory immunoregulatory system (CIRS) in 120 pregnant females in the early (<16 weeks) and late (>24 weeks) pregnancy.