Increased number of activated T cells in lymphocyte subsets of maltreated children: Data from a pilot study

Bielas, Hannes; Jud, Andreas; Lips, Ulrich; Reichenbach, Janine; Landolt, Markus A.

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2012.08.003

Cited by 12 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Higher basal or stress‐induced levels of plasma cytokines, including IL‐6, IL‐1β, and serum TNF‐α, have been described in healthy adults exposed to ELS . Also, previous studies reported altered cell‐mediated immune markers in adults with ELS, including expansion of activated T cells (CD4 + and CD8 + ), natural killer cells, and higher CD4/CD8 T cell ratios . Large epidemiological cohorts reported that ELS is an independent risk factor for inflammation later in life .…”

Section: Early‐life Stress Leads To Chronic Inflammationmentioning

confidence: 96%

Inflammation in psychiatric disorders: what comes first?

Bauer

Teixeira

2018

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

342

208

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Neuropsychiatric disorders (i.e., mood disorders and schizophrenia) and inflammation are closely intertwined, and possibly powering each other in a bidirectional loop. Depression facilitates inflammatory reactions and inflammation promotes depression and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Patients with neuropsychiatric disorders exhibit all cardinal features of inflammation, including increased circulating levels of inflammatory inducers, activated sensors, and inflammatory mediators targeting all tissues. Inflammation may contribute to the pathophysiology and clinical progression of these disorders. Of note, proinflammatory cytokines modulate mood behavior and cognition by reducing brain monoamine levels, activating neuroendocrine responses, promoting excitotoxicity (increased glutamate levels), and impairing brain plasticity. What are the sources of this chronic inflammation? Increasing evidence indicates that changes in neuroendocrine regulation, metabolism, diet/microbiota, and negative health behaviors are important triggers of inflammation. Finally, recent data indicate that early-life stress is associated with overt inflammation prior to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Section: Early‐life Stress Leads To Chronic Inflammationmentioning

confidence: 96%

Inflammation in psychiatric disorders: what comes first?

Bauer

Teixeira

2018

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

342

208

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“…The latter are also limited by the small sample size and the character of this pilot study with its cross-sectional design, implicating the risk of selection biases and limited statistical power, especially for the assessment of potential confounders. Therefore, the combined effect of psychopathology and maltreatment can only be stated with caution, without generalizing the effect for the combination of depression or PTSD with other ACEs [10]. Notwithstanding this, the current study is the first to demonstrate a negative impact of depression and PTSD on RTEs among maltreated children controlled for age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The increase in total T-cell and total lymphocyte counts in maltreated participants with no psychiatric diagnosis appears to level off in cases of parallel depression. This is mirrored by large effect sizes for the comparison of group means throughout the data and the parallel trend for the counts of HLA-DR-expressing activated T cells [10]. In line with a meta-analysis showing an association between the decrease in the percentage of T cells and depression [16], the discount effect in our data is driven by linear correlations between counts and percentages of RTEs and the symptom severity of depression or PTSD among maltreated children and adolescents.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cases were categorized as physical/sexual/psychological maltreatment or neglect applying exclusion criteria, for example the Munchausen syndrome by proxy or unsubstantiated cases. The exclusion criteria have previously been detailed elsewhere [10,21]. We also excluded 1 participant from the control group who reported clinical symptoms of depression beyond the cutoff value (see Psychopathology section).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was also found in 12-year-old children with a history of maltreatment and depression [9]. Similarly, increased T-cell activation, which is mirrored by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DR expression, has recently been associated with maltreatment [10], but the role of comorbid psychopathology at a young age remains to be studied with regard to lymphocyte subsets.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Preliminary Evidence for a Compromised T-Cell Compartment in Maltreated Children with Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Bielas

Jud²,

Lips³

et al. 2015

Neuroimmunomodulation

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Objective: Adverse childhood experiences, such as maltreatment, and affective disorders are associated with a proinflammatory state and/or variably compromised counts in lymphocyte subsets in adults. Animal models of social stress indicate that recent thymic emigrant cells (RTE), which maintain the T-cell compartment, are affected. Methods: In this study, we examined the association between lymphocyte subsets, and depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among 16 maltreated children (aged 6-17 years) 1-3 years after the intervention by the Child Protection Team and among 14 healthy age-matched controls. The participants completed psychological assessment and had blood drawn for fluorescent-activated cell sorting analysis. Results: Among maltreated children and adolescents, depression was associated with lower counts of RTEs and T-helper cells after controlling for age. We found additional trends and large effect sizes with regard to the percentages of these cells, as well as for related lymphocyte subsets. Similar effects were found for PTSD, i.e. lower counts of naïve T cells, which was also supported by a trend for their percentage. Compared to controls, maltreated participants with a clinical level of depression had decreased percentages of RTEs, with a similar trend for PTSD. Conclusion: Limited by the nature of a pilot study and the small sample size, these preliminary findings of a compromised T-cell compartment related to psychiatric symptoms in maltreated children and adolescents need to be further studied; particularly the role of RTEs needs further evaluation.

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