Issue 1/2 Vol. 36 1994

Maternal influences on the development of immune competence in infancy

COE, C. L., LUBACH, G. R. and ERSHLER, W. B.

While it is possible to demonstrate pychoneuroimmunologic relationships at any point in the life span, a guiding hypothesis of our research has been that they may prove to be most significant during infancy and old age (Coe, 1993).  The logic behind this belief is conceptually similar to analogous theories about the development of the endocrine and nervous systems (Hofer,1983; Schanberg & Field, 1987).  Because the underlying physiology is undergoing dynamic developmental change during both periods -- maturing in infancy and progressively declining in association with immune senescence in old age -- perturbations at these stages may cause longer-lasting alterations. From this perspective, stressors, disease, or other causes of abnormality in infancy may exert prolonged changes by shifting the maturational trajectory of certain immune responses. This shift could also alter the set point at which some immune responses are established.

In this brief review, we will highlight some experimental results supporting the conclusion that immune measures in the young infant are quite responsive to psychological factors, especially those related to the mother-infant relationship. The studies were conducted with two species of nonhuman primates, the rhesus and squirrel monkey, and were concerned with 3 general questions. First, we will show how acute disruption of the mother-infant relationship can affect the infant's immune competence. Next, the role the mother plays in stimulating and maintaining normal immune development will be discussed. Finally, we will briefly consider whether the postnatal immune development of the infant may be impacted by prenatal disturbance of the pregnant female. The data suggest that disturbances early in development may exert lingering effects by changing the maturational course of the infant.

Keywords: immune system, immune competence, infant

Short Title: Coe, C. L. et al. (1994) PsyBeit 1-2:15

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