Investigating the effects of childhood maltreatment on pro-inflammatory signaling : The influence of cortisol and DHEA on cytokine secretion ex vivo

Geiger, Martha Leonie and Boeck, Christina and Koenig, Alexandra Maria and Schury, Katharina and Waller, Christiane and Kolassa, Stephan and Karabatsiakis, Alexander and Kolassa, Iris- Tatjana (2019) Investigating the effects of childhood maltreatment on pro-inflammatory signaling : The influence of cortisol and DHEA on cytokine secretion ex vivo. Mental Health & Prevention, 13. pp. 176-186.

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Abstract

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation and an increased risk for the development of adverse mental and physical health outcomes in CM-affected adults. Differences in cortisol signaling were described to contribute to this pro-inflammatory phenotype. We investigated in a study cohort of 13 postpartum women with and 12 postpartum women without CM whether treatment of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with cortisol, the anti-glucocorticoid hormone dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), or co-treatment with both differentially affected pro-inflammatory cytokine release ex vivo. The childhood trauma questionnaire was used to retrospectively assess CM and the severity of CM experiences (maltreatment load). PBMC of maltreated women (CM+) showed in all conditions an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion compared to PBMC of the control group (CM-), which was correlated with the maltreatment load. Ex vivo stimulation analyses provided preliminary evidence for a differential responsivity of PBMC in CM+ and CM- women to cortisol regarding TNF-α secretion, but no difference in the responsivity to DHEA treatment. The results of the co-treatment with cortisol and DHEA support the hypothesis that cortisol and DHEA interact in the modulation of inflammatory processes.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Mental Health & Prevention
ID Code:
134004
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
22 Jun 2019 09:14
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 19:27