Maternal stress, low cervicovaginal β-defensin, and spontaneous preterm birth.

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM
Heather H BurrisMichal A Elovitz

Abstract

Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a major contributor to infant mortality and its etiology remains poorly understood. Host immunity and maternal stress may play a role in the pathogenesis of sPTB but mechanisms are poorly delineated. Antimicrobial proteins in the cervicovaginal space, such as beta defensins, modulate immune responses to bacteria and have been shown to modulate the risk of sPTB from non-optimal microbiota. While stress is known to induce immunological changes, no study has examined the interplay between maternal stress and the immune response in association with sPTB. Our objectives were to determine whether psychosocial stress was associated with a mediator of the immune system in the cervicovaginal space, beta defensin-2, and to examine the combined impact of high stress and low cervicovaginal beta defensin-2 levels on the odds of sPTB. From the Motherhood & Microbiome cohort study (n=2000), we performed a secondary, nested case-control study, frequency matched by race/ethnicity, of 519 pregnant women (110 sPTB and 409 term). Stress and cervicovaginal beta defensin-2 levels were measured at 16-20 weeks of gestation. Stress was dichotomized at a score of 30 on Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). We measu...Continue Reading

Citations

Aug 7, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Megan M ShannonHeather H Burris
Feb 26, 2021·Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology : RB&E·Ga-Hyun SonSung Taek Park
Jul 4, 2021·Environmental Research·Max Jordan Nguemeni TiakoHeather H Burris
Aug 18, 2021·Journal of Perinatology : Official Journal of the California Perinatal Association·Sara L KornfieldHeather H Burris
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Ga-Hyun SonKeun-Young Lee

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