Biology subjects

Naude, P. J. W.

Publications and source records attributed to Naude, P. J. W..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Maternal and early-life longitudinal cytokine profiles in a South African birth cohort: the impact of HIV

BackgroundDuring pregnancy, exposure to maternal HIV and a disrupted cytokine environment may impact foetal immune development and health outcomes through cytokine-mediated mechanisms. We evaluated (i) peripheral blood cytokine differences in pregnant women with and without HIV, (ii) longitudinal differences in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed uninfected (HUU) children, and (iii) latent cytokine groupings. Additionally, we explored the impact of maternal antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation timing on cytokine levels. MethodsWe assessed 399 mother-child pairs in the Drakenstein Child Health Study (DCHS), in pregnancy (n=179 mothers with HIV and n=220 without HIV) and their children at 6 weeks, 2-, 3-, and 5-years. Eighteen serum immune markers were quantified with ELISA and multiplex assays. Group differences were assessed with linear regression, and longitudinal analysis of child immune trajectories was evaluated with linear mixed models. Latent cytokine groupings were assessed using an integrated ANOVA framework with principal component analysis. ResultsPregnant women living with HIV had lower GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, NGAL, and MMP-9 levels, and higher TNF-, IFN-{gamma}, and sCD14 levels compared to women without HIV. HEU children had lower GM-CSF, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-1{beta}, IL-2, and IL-4 and higher sCD14 levels over time compared to HUU children and revealed distinct immunoregulatory profiles. ART initiation during compared to before pregnancy was associated with higher immune marker levels in mothers but not in their children. ConclusionsAltered immune responses are present in mothers with HIV that persist longitudinally in their HEU children, potentially contributing to their health outcomes.

immunology↗

bioRxiv2023

Subcortical volumes, frontal cortical thickness, and pro-inflammatory cytokines in schizophrenia versus methamphetamine-induced psychosis

Background and HypothesisClinical features of schizophrenia and methamphetamine-induced psychosis (MAP) have significant overlap. Schizophrenia is associated with alterations in subcortical volumes and cortical thickness and pro-inflammatory cytokines, that may correlate with clinical features. However, analogous work on MAP is lacking. We hypothesise decreased frontal cortical thickness, amygdala and hippocampal volumes in schizophrenia and MAP compared to controls, with increased basal ganglia in schizophrenia compared to MAP. Study DesignParticipants included n=36 schizophrenia, n=27 MAP and 32 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Diagnosis and symptom severity were determined with the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I Disorders, and the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, respectively. Structural T1-weighted images were acquired using a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Serum peripheral cytokine concentrations were measured using a multiplex bead array. Study ResultsSchizophrenia and MAP participants showed decreased left amygdala volumes and frontal cortical thickness compared to controls. Schizophrenia participants had increased bilateral caudate, putamen, and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) volumes compared to controls, and greater right globus pallidus and NAcc volumes compared to MAP. Decreased left amygdala volumes and frontal cortical thickness were significantly associated with longer illness duration in schizophrenia and methamphetamine use in MAP. No significant differences were found in cytokine levels between groups or associations with neuroimaging measures. ConclusionsThis study highlights overlaps and differences in the psychobiology of schizophrenia and MAP.The novel discovery of increased globus pallidus and NAcc volumes in schizophrenia compared with MAP may show important distinctions in the neurobiology between these two conditions.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Association of maternal prenatal psychological stressors and distress with maternal and early infant faecal bacterial profile

BackgroundFindings from animal studies indicate that the early gut bacteriome is a potential mechanism linking maternal prenatal stress with health trajectories in offspring. However, clinical studies are scarce and the associations of maternal psychological profiles with the early infant faecal bacteriome is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the associations of prenatal stressors and distress with early infant faecal bacterial profiles in a South African birth cohort study.\n\nMethodsAssociations between prenatal symptoms of depression, distress, intimate partner violence (IPV) and posttraumatic stress-disorder (PTSD) and faecal bacterial profiles were evaluated in meconium and subsequent stool specimens from 84 mothers and 101 infants at birth, and longitudinally from a subset of 69 and 36 infants at 4-12 and 20-28 weeks of age, respectively in a South African birth cohort study.\n\nResultsInfants born to mothers exposed to high levels of IPV had significantly higher proportions of unclassified genera within the family Enterobacteriaceae detected at birth; higher proportions of the genus Weissella at 4-12 weeks; and increased proportions of genera within the family Enterobacteriaceae over time (birth to 28 weeks of life). Faecal specimens from mothers exposed to IPV had higher proportions of the family Lactobacillaceae and lower proportions of Peptostreptococcaceae at birth. Maternal psychological distress was associated with decreased proportions of the family Veillonellaceae in infants at 20-28 weeks and a slower decline in Gammaproteobacteria over time. No changes in beta diversity were apparent for maternal or infant faecal bacterial profiles in relation to any of the prenatal measures for psychological adversities.\n\nConclusionIPV during pregnancy is associated with altered bacterial profiles in infant and maternal faecal bacteria. These findings may provide insights in the involvement of the gut bacteria linking maternal psychological adversity and the maturing infant brain.

neuroscience↗