Abstract # 3087 Exposure to early life stress (ELS) sensitizes individuals to the behavioral consequences of mild fluctuations in circulating inflammation

Increases in inflammation have been linked to meaningful changes in mood and behavior. Individuals exposed to ELS may be particularly vulnerable to the behavioral effects of inflammation. In the present study, participants reported on exposure to early life stress via the Early Trauma Inventory (ETI). Participants then completed a daily mood diary for 14 days. On the 7th day, participants received the flu vaccine. Plasma IL-6 assessed immediately prior to vaccination and 24-h later was used as the measure of inflammatory activation. Individuals in this study (n = 41; Mage = 18.48, SDage = 0.74) were exposed to a wide range of stressful life events during childhood, METI = 4.49, SDETI = 4.02. Exposure to more ELS was not associated with higher baseline IL-6, r=.03, p=.87, or increase in IL-6 following vaccine exposure, r=-.13, p=.40. However, there was a significant interaction between ELS and the magnitude of IL-6 increase, b=.14, SE=.06, p=.029. There was no association between IL-6 response and depressed mood among individuals with 5 or fewer early life events, b=-.49, SE=.69, p=.49, whereas individuals with a score of 6 or more showed greater decrements in mood with a larger IL-6 response, b = 1.68, SE=.53, p=.01. Exposure to ELS may sensitize individuals to the behavioral effects of acute increases in inflammation. Increased vulnerability to the behavioral effects of inflammation may explain the lifelong health disparities associated with childhood adversity.