Project Summary

Brad D. Pearce, Ph.D. (Young Investigator 2003) of Emory University, will attempt to discover key chemical mediators in the blood that might be involved in causing depression during pregnancy, and precipitating birth complications.  Dr. Pearce will focus on immune molecules, known as cytokines, and on a hormone called cortisol that is regulated by these molecules.  Significant evidence exists that cortisol and certain cytokine systems may be abnormal in depression.  One small protein, macrophage inhibitory factor (MIF) acts as both a hormone and a cytokine.  Elevations in MIF may increase the cytokine IL-6 and disrupt the normal control of cortisol, thereby playing an instrumental role in the abnormalities seen in depression.  Dr. Pearce will test the hypothesis that MIF levels are elevated in depressed pregnant women, and will explore the possibility of measuring MIF levels as a predictor of birth complications in women with depression.

Program Area: MOOD DISORDERS\Depression (Unipolar)

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