Increased levels of APOA4 in cord blood in maternal major depressive disorder

Abstract

Abstract Background: Prenatal maternal depression affects neurodevelopment in the offspring. This study aimed to investigate the cord blood profile of mothers with major depressive disorder (MDD). Methods:Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed using umbilical cord blood from women with MDD and gestational age-matched controls (Control). The levels of several differentially expressed proteins in cord blood were compared between the two groups using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results: The proteomic profiles of cord blood differed between the MDD and Control groups, including the pathways on regulation of plasma lipoprotein particle levels and synapse organisation. Only apolipoprotein A4 (APOA4) levels were significantly increased in the cord blood of the MDD group. APOA4 levels in the maternal serum were also significantly higher in the MDD group than in the control group (p <0.05). APOA4 levels were higher in cord blood than in maternal serum. Conclusions: APOA4, a biomarker of depression, was increased in neonates at birth exposed to maternal MDD in utero. Thus, our results suggest that the risk of MDD in children born to MDD mothers might be related to increased APOA4 levels at birth, although further studies are required.