Innate immune system reactivity to an immune challenge: effects of early life stress, acute stressors, parental responsiveness, and early intervention

Abstract

Early life stress is associated with numerous diseases in adulthood that may be caused by dysregulation of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory immune responses. The current study investigated contributions of early life stress, acute stress, and parental nurturance on innate immune functioning after the administration of the influenza vaccine. The influenza vaccine produced an elevation in CRP and IL-10 levels in children aged 8 to 11 years, but no significant elevation in IL-6 levels was observed. Early life stress did not significantly affect the trajectory of any cytokine after the influenza vaccine. Likewise, acute stress, or daily hassles, did not significantly affect cytokine production following the vaccine among children regardless of exposure to early life stress. In addition, parental nurturance did not significantly alter the innate immune system response following the influenza vaccine for either risk group. Among children who experienced high levels of early life stress, cytokine trajectory after receiving the influenza vaccine did not differ significantly between children who received an attachment based intervention, Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up, and those who received a control intervention.