Levels of Systemic Low-grade Inflammation in Pregnant Mothers and Their Offspring are Correlated

Sci Rep. 2019 Feb 28;9(1):3043. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-39620-5.

Abstract

High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is a marker of systemic low-grade inflammation and associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. It is unknown whether maternal and infant hs-CRP levels are correlated and little is known about risk factors in early childhood. Hs-CRP were measured in mothers during pregnancy week 24 (N = 690), and one-week postpartum (N = 675) and in their children age 6 mo (N = 640) enrolled in the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2010 (COPSAC2010) cohort. The risk factor analysis included anthropometrics, environmental exposures and CRP-Genetic Risk Score (GRS). Mother's body mass index (BMI), use of antibiotics, smoking, cesarean delivery and season were associated with higher maternal hs-CRP level, whereas higher social circumstances were associated with lower hs-CRP level (p < 0.05). Child's BMI, siblings, bacterial airway colonization, current infection, CRP-genetic risk score and season were associated with higher hs-CRP at age 6 mo (all p < 0.05). Mother's hs-CRP level in pregnancy week 24 was associated with hs-CRP level in the child at 6 mo: β-coefficient = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.01-0.20], R2 = 0.22, p = 0.03. The association was unchanged adjusted for all significant risk factors. Systemic low-grade inflammation in pregnant mothers and their offspring is correlated independently of BMI, environmental exposures and genetic risk factors.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / blood
  • Asthma / epidemiology
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis*
  • C-Reactive Protein / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Inflammation / blood
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Mothers
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / blood
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second / immunology*
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / blood
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / epidemiology
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / immunology*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • C-Reactive Protein