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Smyrli A, Raveendran V, Walter S, Pagarkar W, Field N, Kadambari S, Lyall H, Bailey H. What are the neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with asymptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection at birth? A systematic literature review. Rev Med Virol 2024; 34:e2555. [PMID: 39031854 PMCID: PMC11262424 DOI: 10.1002/rmv.2555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is among the most common congenital infections globally. Of 85%-90% cCMV-infected infants without symptoms at birth, 10%-15% develop sequelae, most commonly sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL); their childhood neurodevelopmental outcomes are less well understood. Embase and MEDLINE were searched for publications from 16th September 2016 to 9th February 2024 to identify studies reporting primary data on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with asymptomatic cCMV (AcCMV), measured using assessment tools or as evaluated by the study investigators, clinicians, educators, or parents. The Newcastle-Ottawa scale was applied to studies to assess risk of bias. Of 28 studies from 18 mostly high-income countries, there were 5-109 children with AcCMV per study and 6/28 had a mean or median age at last follow-up of ≥5 years. Children with AcCMV had better neurodevelopmental outcomes than children with symptomatic cCMV in 16/19 studies. Of 9/28 studies comparing AcCMV with CMV-uninfected children, six reported similar outcomes whilst three reported differences limited to measures of full-scale intelligence and receptive vocabulary among children with AcCMV and SNHL, or more generally in motor impairment. Common limitations of studies for our question were a lack of cCMV-uninfected controls, heterogeneous definitions of AcCMV, lack of focus on neurodevelopment, selection bias and inadequate follow-up. There was little evidence of children with AcCMV having worse neurodevelopmental outcomes than CMV-uninfected children, but this conclusion is limited by study characteristics and quality; findings highlight the need for well-designed and standardised approaches to investigate long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Smyrli
- Institute for Global HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | | | - Simone Walter
- St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Waheeda Pagarkar
- Department of Audiological MedicineGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Nigel Field
- Institute for Global HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Seilesh Kadambari
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases and ImmunologyGreat Ormond Street HospitalLondonUK
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | | | - Heather Bailey
- Institute for Global HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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2
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Pesch MH, Leung J, Lanzieri TM, Tinker SC, Rose CE, Danielson ML, Yeargin-Allsopp M, Grosse SD. Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses and Congenital Cytomegalovirus. Pediatrics 2024; 153:e2023064081. [PMID: 38808409 PMCID: PMC11153325 DOI: 10.1542/peds.2023-064081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To examine the association between congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) administrative diagnoses in US children. METHODS Cohort study using 2014 to 2020 Medicaid claims data. We used diagnosis codes to identify cCMV (exposure), ASD (outcome), and covariates among children enrolled from birth through ≥4 to <7 years. Covariates include central nervous system (CNS) anomaly or injury diagnosis codes, including brain anomaly, microcephaly within 45 days of birth, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or chorioretinitis. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals, overall and stratified by sex, birth weight and gestational age outcome (low birth weight or preterm birth), and presence of CNS anomaly or injury. RESULTS Among 2 989 659 children, we identified 1044 (3.5 per 10 000) children with cCMV and 74 872 (25.0 per 1000) children with ASD. Of those with cCMV, 49% also had CNS anomaly or injury diagnosis codes. Children with cCMV were more likely to have ASD diagnoses (hazard ratio: 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 2.0-3.2, adjusting for birth year, sex, and region). This association differed by sex and absence of CNS anomaly or injury but not birth outcome. CONCLUSIONS Children with (versus without) cCMV diagnoses in Medicaid claims data, most of whom likely had symptomatic cCMV, were more likely to have ASD diagnoses. Future research investigating ASD risk among cohorts identified through universal cCMV screening may help elucidate these observed associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan H. Pesch
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Jessica Leung
- National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
| | | | - Sarah C. Tinker
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Charles E. Rose
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Melissa L. Danielson
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Scott D. Grosse
- National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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3
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Vacharasin JM, Ward JA, McCord MM, Cox K, Imitola J, Lizarraga SB. Neuroimmune mechanisms in autism etiology - untangling a complex problem using human cellular models. OXFORD OPEN NEUROSCIENCE 2024; 3:kvae003. [PMID: 38665176 PMCID: PMC11044813 DOI: 10.1093/oons/kvae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 in 36 people and is more often diagnosed in males than in females. Core features of ASD are impaired social interactions, repetitive behaviors and deficits in verbal communication. ASD is a highly heterogeneous and heritable disorder, yet its underlying genetic causes account only for up to 80% of the cases. Hence, a subset of ASD cases could be influenced by environmental risk factors. Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a response to inflammation during pregnancy, which can lead to increased inflammatory signals to the fetus. Inflammatory signals can cross the placenta and blood brain barriers affecting fetal brain development. Epidemiological and animal studies suggest that MIA could contribute to ASD etiology. However, human mechanistic studies have been hindered by a lack of experimental systems that could replicate the impact of MIA during fetal development. Therefore, mechanisms altered by inflammation during human pre-natal brain development, and that could underlie ASD pathogenesis have been largely understudied. The advent of human cellular models with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) and organoid technology is closing this gap in knowledge by providing both access to molecular manipulations and culturing capability of tissue that would be otherwise inaccessible. We present an overview of multiple levels of evidence from clinical, epidemiological, and cellular studies that provide a potential link between higher ASD risk and inflammation. More importantly, we discuss how stem cell-derived models may constitute an ideal experimental system to mechanistically interrogate the effect of inflammation during the early stages of brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janay M Vacharasin
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Francis Marion University, 4822 East Palmetto Street, Florence, S.C. 29506, USA
| | - Joseph A Ward
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Mikayla M McCord
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Kaitlin Cox
- Department of Biological Sciences, and Center for Childhood Neurotherapeutics, Univ. of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jaime Imitola
- Laboratory of Neural Stem Cells and Functional Neurogenetics, UConn Health, Departments of Neuroscience, Neurology, Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-5357, USA
| | - Sofia B Lizarraga
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, & Biochemistry, Brown University, 185 Meeting Street, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Carney Institute of Brain Science, Brown University, 70 Ship Street, Providence, RI 02903, USA
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4
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Zhang M, Ming Y, Du Y, Xin Z. Two-sample Mendelian randomization study does not reveal a significant relationship between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and autism spectrum disorder. BMC Psychiatry 2023; 23:559. [PMID: 37533011 PMCID: PMC10394766 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-05035-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting ~ 2% of children worldwide and is characterized by repetitive, stereotypical behaviours and impaired expressive communication. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is considered a risk factor for ASD; however, published studies are usually limited by covering too few events and have different conclusions, indicating that the relationship between CMV infection and ASD remains elusive. METHODS To investigate the association between CMV infection and ASD, we conducted this 2-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data from FinnGen and the IEU Open GWAS project. RESULTS Our results showed no significant relationship between all 3 CMV infections (unspecified cytomegaloviral diseases, anti-CMV IgG levels, and maternal CMV) and ASD. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that CMV infection does not significantly increase ASD risk. These results show that the relationship between CMV infection and ASD remains elusive and needs to be further clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengna Zhang
- Molecular Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, HeBei Province, 067000, China.
| | - Ying Ming
- Molecular Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, HeBei Province, 067000, China
| | - Yunling Du
- Molecular Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, HeBei Province, 067000, China
| | - Ziyuan Xin
- Molecular Diagnosis Center, The Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical University, Chengde, HeBei Province, 067000, China
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5
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Sager REH, Walker AK, Middleton FA, Robinson K, Webster MJ, Gentile K, Wong ML, Shannon Weickert C. Changes in cytokine and cytokine receptor levels during postnatal development of the human dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Brain Behav Immun 2023; 111:186-201. [PMID: 36958512 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In addition to their traditional roles in immune cell communication, cytokines regulate brain development. Cytokines are known to influence neural cell generation, differentiation, maturation, and survival. However, most work on the role of cytokines in brain development investigates rodents or focuses on prenatal events. Here, we investigate how mRNA and protein levels of key cytokines and cytokine receptors change during postnatal development of the human prefrontal cortex. We find that most cytokine transcripts investigated (IL1B, IL18, IL6, TNF, IL13) are lowest at birth and increase between 1.5 and 5 years old. After 5 years old, transcriptional patterns proceeded in one of two directions: decreased expression in teens and young adults (IL1B, p = 0.002; and IL18, p = 0.004) or increased mean expression with maturation, particularly in teenagers (IL6, p = 0.004; TNF, p = 0.002; IL13, p < 0.001). In contrast, cytokine proteins tended to remain elevated after peaking significantly around 3 years of age (IL1B, p = 0.012; IL18, p = 0.026; IL6, p = 0.039; TNF, p < 0.001), with TNF protein being highest in teenagers. An mRNA-only analysis of cytokine receptor transcripts found that early developmental increases in cytokines were paralleled by increases in their ligand-binding receptor subunits, such as IL1R1 (p = 0.033) and IL6R (p < 0.001) transcripts. In contrast, cytokine receptor-associated signaling subunits, IL1RAP and IL6ST, did not change significantly between age groups. Of the two TNF receptors, the 'pro-death' TNFRSF1A and 'pro-survival' TNFRSF1B, only TNFRSF1B was significantly changed (p = 0.028), increasing first in toddlers and again in young adults. Finally, the cytokine inhibitor, IL13, was elevated first in toddlers (p = 0.006) and again in young adults (p = 0.053). While the mean expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) was highest in toddlers, this increase was not statistically significant. The fluctuations in cytokine expression reported here support a role for increases in specific cytokines at two different stages of human cortical development. The first is during the toddler/preschool period (IL1B, IL18, and IL13), and the other occurs at adolescence/young adult maturation (IL6, TNF and IL13).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E H Sager
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Adam K Walker
- Laboratory of Immunopsychiatry, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, Monash University, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Frank A Middleton
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Kate Robinson
- Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Karen Gentile
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Ma-Li Wong
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Cynthia Shannon Weickert
- Department of Neuroscience and Physiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA; Discipline of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Schizophrenia Research Laboratory, Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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6
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Keymeulen A, De Leenheer E, Casaer A, Cossey V, Laroche S, Mahieu L, Oostra A, Van Mol C, Dhooge I, Smets K. Neurodevelopmental outcome in children with congenital cytomegalovirus infection: A prospective multicenter cohort study. Early Hum Dev 2023; 182:105777. [PMID: 37187139 DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2023.105777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV) is the most common congenital infection worldwide and is a major cause of neurodevelopmental impairment in children. At this point there are insufficient data on neurodevelopmental outcome of children with cCMV, both symptomatic and asymptomatic. AIM This study aimed to describe the neurodevelopmental outcome in a large prospective cohort of children with cCMV. METHODS All children with cCMV, included in the Flemish cCMV register, were eligible for this study. Data on neurodevelopmental outcome was available in 753 children. Data on neuromotor, cognitive, behavioral, audiological and ophthalmological outcome were analyzed. RESULTS Neurodevelopmental outcome was normal in 530/753 (70,4 %) at any age of last follow-up. Mild, moderate and severe neurodevelopmental impairment was found in 128/753 (16,9 %), 56/753 (7,4 %) and 39/753 (5,2 %), respectively. Adverse outcome is found both in the symptomatic and asymptomatic children (53,5 % versus 17,8 %). Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was diagnosed more often than in the general population in Flanders (2,5 % versus 0,7 %). Speech and language impairment was found in 2 %, even in absence of hearing loss. CONCLUSION Both symptomatic and asymptomatic cCMV children are at risk of sequelae, with higher risk in case of first trimester infection. During follow-up of this population, special attention should be given to the audiological follow-up, the presence of hypotonia at young age, the possible higher risk of ASD and the risk of speech and language impairment even in absence of hearing loss. Our results emphasize the need for multidisciplinary neurodevelopmental follow-up of all cCMV infected children.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Keymeulen
- Department of neonatology, Ghent University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - E De Leenheer
- Department of ear-nose-throat, Ghent University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - A Casaer
- COS Ghent, Department of neonatology, AZ Sint Jan Bruges, Ruddershove 10, 8000 Bruges, Belgium.
| | - V Cossey
- Department of neonatology, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
| | - S Laroche
- Department of neonatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium.
| | - L Mahieu
- Department of neonatology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp University, Drie Eikenstraat 655, 2650 Edegem, Belgium.
| | - A Oostra
- COS Ghent, Ghent University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - C Van Mol
- Department of neonatology, GZA Antwerp, Oosterveldlaan 24, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium.
| | - I Dhooge
- Department of ear-nose-throat, Ghent University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - K Smets
- Department of neonatology, Ghent University Hospital Ghent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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7
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Yang XY, Wang YY, Zhou YP, He J, Mei MJ, Zhang MN, Wang B, Zhou WJ, Luo MH, Wang QH, Li ZY, Xu Y, Lu Q, Zou LP. Postnatal Cytomegalovirus Infection May Increase the Susceptibility of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex to Autism Spectrum Disorders. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0186421. [PMID: 35467404 PMCID: PMC9241718 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01864-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a highly hereditary and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a common syndrome associated with ASD. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is an environmental risk factor for ASD. The similarities in pathological and mechanistic pathways of TSC and CMV intrigued us to investigate whether CMV and TSC interacted in ASD's occurrence. We detected CMV IgG seroprevalence of 308 TSC patients from our prospective cohort (September 2011 to March 2021) and 93 healthy children by magnetic particle indirect chemiluminescence immunoassay. A total of 206 TSC patients enrolled were divided into ASD and non-ASD groups, and the relationship between ASD and CMV seroprevalence was analyzed. Nested PCR and Western blot were used to detect CMV DNAs and proteins in cortical malformations of seven TSC patients with and without ASD. No difference was found in CMV seroprevalence between TSC patients and healthy children (74.0% versus 72.0%, P = 0.704). Univariate analysis showed the seroprevalence in TSC patients with ASD was higher than that in TSC patients without ASD (89.2% versus 75.1%, P = 0.063), and multifactorial analysis showed that CMV seroprevalence was a risk factor for ASD in TSC patients (OR = 3.976, 95% CI = 1.093 to 14.454). Moreover, CMV was more likely to be detected in the cortical malformations in TSC patients with ASD but not in those without ASD. The findings demonstrated that CMV may increase the susceptibility of TSC to ASD. IMPORTANCE CMV is an environmental risk factor for ASD, but its role in syndromic autism with known genetic etiology has been rarely studied. The pathogenesis of ASD is related to the interaction between environmental and genetic factors. This study demonstrated that CMV can contribute to the occurrence of ASD related to TSC, a common genetic syndrome associated with ASD. Our findings provided support for the theory of gene-environment interaction (G × E) in pathogenesis of ASD and a new perspective for the prevention and therapy for TSC related ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yan Yang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yang-Yang Wang
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yue-Peng Zhou
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Meng-Jie Mei
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Meng-Na Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of the Outpatients, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wen-Jing Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yuquan Hospital of Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Min-Hua Luo
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiu-Hong Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Yuan Li
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The Fourth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Xu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Lu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li-Ping Zou
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Faculty of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders, Center for Brain Disorders Research, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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8
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Elgueta D, Murgas P, Riquelme E, Yang G, Cancino GI. Consequences of Viral Infection and Cytokine Production During Pregnancy on Brain Development in Offspring. Front Immunol 2022; 13:816619. [PMID: 35464419 PMCID: PMC9021386 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.816619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections during pregnancy can seriously damage fetal neurodevelopment by aberrantly activating the maternal immune system, directly impacting fetal neural cells. Increasing evidence suggests that these adverse impacts involve alterations in neural stem cell biology with long-term consequences for offspring, including neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, and cognitive impairment. Here we review how maternal infection with viruses such as Influenza A, Cytomegalovirus, and Zika during pregnancy can affect the brain development of offspring by promoting the release of maternal pro-inflammatory cytokines, triggering neuroinflammation of the fetal brain, and/or directly infecting fetal neural cells. In addition, we review insights into how these infections impact human brain development from studies with animal models and brain organoids. Finally, we discuss how maternal infection with SARS-CoV-2 may have consequences for neurodevelopment of the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Elgueta
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Paola Murgas
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Erick Riquelme
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Tecnología Médica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
| | - Guang Yang
- Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.,Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Gonzalo I Cancino
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile.,Escuela de Biotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor, Santiago, Chile
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9
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Maternal immune activation induces sustained changes in fetal microglia motility. Sci Rep 2020; 10:21378. [PMID: 33288794 PMCID: PMC7721716 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78294-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection or inflammation causes abnormalities in brain development associated with subsequent cognitive impairment and in an increased susceptibility to schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Maternal immune activation (MIA) and increases in serum cytokine levels mediates this association via effects on the fetal brain, and microglia can respond to maternal immune status, but consensus on how microglia may respond is lacking and no-one has yet examined if microglial process motility is impaired. In this study we investigated how MIA induced at two different gestational ages affected microglial properties at different developmental stages. Immune activation in mid-pregnancy increased IL-6 expression in embryonic microglia, but failed to cause any marked changes in morphology either at E18 or postnatally. In contrast MIA, particularly when induced earlier (at E12), caused sustained alterations in the patterns of microglial process motility and behavioral deficits. Our research has identified an important microglial property that is altered by MIA and which may contribute to the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms linking maternal immune status to subsequent risks for cognitive disease.
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10
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Leruez-Ville M, Foulon I, Pass R, Ville Y. Cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy: state of the science. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020; 223:330-349. [PMID: 32105678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus is the most common congenital infection, affecting 0.5-2% of all live births and the main nongenetic cause of congenital sensorineural hearing loss and neurological damage. Congenital cytomegalovirus can follow maternal primary infection or nonprimary infection. Sensorineurological morbidity is confined to the first trimester with up to 40-50% of infected neonates developing sequelae after first-trimester primary infection. Serological testing before 14 weeks is critical to identify primary infection within 3 months around conception but is not informative in women already immune before pregnancy. In Europe and the United States, primary infection in the first trimester are mainly seen in young parous women with a previous child younger than 3 years. Congenital cytomegalovirus should be evoked on prenatal ultrasound when the fetus is small for gestation and shows echogenic bowel, effusions, or any cerebral anomaly. Although the sensitivity of routine ultrasound in predicting neonatal symptoms is around 25%, serial targeted ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging of known infected fetuses show greater than 95% sensitivity for brain anomalies. Fetal diagnosis is done by amniocentesis from 17 weeks. Prevention consists of both parents avoiding contact with body fluids from infected individuals, especially toddlers, from before conception until 14 weeks. Candidate vaccines failed to provide more than 75% protection for >2 years in preventing cytomegalovirus infection. Medical therapies such as cytomegalovirus hyperimmune globulins aim to reduce the risk of vertical transmission but 2 randomized controlled trials have not found any benefit. Valaciclovir given from the diagnosis of primary infection up to amniocentesis decreased vertical transmission rates from 29.8% to 11.1% in the treatment group in a randomized controlled trial of 90 pregnant women. In a phase II open-label trial, oral valaciclovir (8 g/d) given to pregnant women with a mildly symptomatic fetus was associated with a higher chance of delivering an asymptomatic neonate (82%), compared with an untreated historical cohort (43%). Valganciclovir given to symptomatic neonates is likely to improve hearing and neurological symptoms, the extent of which and the duration of treatment are still debated. In conclusion, congenital cytomegalovirus infection is a public health challenge. In view of recent knowledge on diagnosis and pre- and postnatal management, health care providers should reevaluate screening programs in early pregnancy and at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Leruez-Ville
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malade, Laboratoire de Virologie, Centre National de Reference des Herpes Virus-Laboratoire Associé Infection Congénitale à Cytomégalovirus, Paris, France; EA Fetus, Paris Descartes Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France.
| | - Ina Foulon
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium; De Poolster Rehabilitation Centre, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Robert Pass
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL
| | - Yves Ville
- EA Fetus, Paris Descartes Université, Université de Paris, Paris, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Necker Enfants-Malade, Maternité, Paris, France
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Paolini M, Lester D, Hawkins M, Hawkins-Villarreal A, Erbuto D, Fiorillo A, Pompili M. Cytomegalovirus Seropositivity and Suicidal Behavior: A Mini-Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 55:medicina55120782. [PMID: 31842504 PMCID: PMC6956346 DOI: 10.3390/medicina55120782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: In recent years, a growing body of research has focused on identifying possible biological markers for suicidal behavior, including infective and immunological markers. In this paper, our aim was to review available evidence concerning the association between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and suicide. Materials and Methods: A systematic search according to the PRISMA statement was performed on Pubmed. After the screening procedure, we identified five relevant papers. Results: We found inconsistent evidence linking CMV infection and suicide, with some papers reporting an association between CMV seropositivity and suicidal behavior, and others not finding the association. Conclusions: With the evidence available presently, it is not possible to infer whether there is a correlation between suicide and CMV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Paolini
- Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - David Lester
- Psychology Program, Stockton University, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA;
| | - Michael Hawkins
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S, Canada;
| | - Ameth Hawkins-Villarreal
- Fetal Medicine Research Center, BCNatal-Barcelona Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Fetal Medicine Service, Obstetrics Department, “Saint Thomas” Hospital, University of Panama, Panama City 0843, Panama
| | - Denise Erbuto
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Andrea Fiorillo
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Pompili
- Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Suicide Prevention Center, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Correspondence:
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Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 48:1483-1491. [PMID: 29185167 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3412-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Association of congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with autism spectral disorder (ASD) has been suggested since 1980s. Despite the observed association, its role as a risk factor for ASD remains to be defined. In the present review, we systematically evaluated the available evidence associating congenital CMV infection with ASD using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Any studies on children with CMV infection and ASD were evaluated for eligibility and three observational studies were included in meta-analysis. Although a high prevalence of congenital CMV infection in ASD cases (OR 11.31, 95% CI 3.07-41.66) was indicated, too few events (0-2 events) in all included studies imposed serious limitations. There is urgent need for further studies to clarify this issue.
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Brief Report: Low Rates of Herpesvirus Detection in Blood of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Controls. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:410-414. [PMID: 30047098 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-018-3691-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Previous research indicates that infection, especially from viruses in the family Herpesviridae, may play a role in the etiology of some cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a case-control design and the polymerase chain reaction with site-specific primers, we screened newborn and childhood blood samples for the presence of eight human herpesviruses. Herpesvirus DNA was detected in 4 of 225 ASD individuals and 2 of 235 controls, with the most frequently detected virus being HHV-6B. Although this study does not detect a significant ASD-Herpesviridae association, it is limited by the use of site-specific primers. We suggest that new techniques using bioinformatics to search next-generation sequencing databases will be more revealing of possible ASD-virus associations.
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Valnoctamide Inhibits Cytomegalovirus Infection in Developing Brain and Attenuates Neurobehavioral Dysfunctions and Brain Abnormalities. J Neurosci 2017. [PMID: 28630251 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0970-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common infectious cause of brain defects and neurological dysfunction in developing human babies. Due to the teratogenicity and toxicity of available CMV antiviral agents, treatment options during early development are markedly limited. Valnoctamide (VCD), a neuroactive mood stabilizer with no known teratogenic activity, was recently demonstrated to have anti-CMV potential. However, it is not known whether this can be translated into an efficacious therapeutic effect to improve CMV-induced adverse neurological outcomes. Using multiple models of CMV infection in the developing mouse brain, we show that subcutaneous low-dose VCD suppresses CMV by reducing the level of virus available for entry into the brain and by acting directly within the brain to block virus replication and dispersal. VCD during the first 3 weeks of life restored timely acquisition of neurological milestones in neonatal male and female mice and rescued long-term motor and behavioral outcomes in juvenile male mice. CMV-mediated brain defects, including decreased brain size, cerebellar hypoplasia, and neuronal loss, were substantially attenuated by VCD. No adverse side effects on neurodevelopment of uninfected control mice receiving VCD were detected. Treatment of CMV-infected human fetal astrocytes with VCD reduced both viral infectivity and replication by blocking viral particle attachment to the cell, a mechanism that differs from available anti-CMV drugs. These data suggest that VCD during critical periods of neurodevelopment can effectively suppress CMV replication in the brain and safely improve both immediate and long-term neurological outcomes.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Cytomegalovirus (CMV) can irreversibly damage the developing brain. No anti-CMV drugs are available for use during fetal development, and treatment during the neonatal period has substantial limitations. We studied the anti-CMV actions of valnoctamide (VCD), a psychiatric sedative that appears to lack teratogenicity and toxicity, in the newborn mouse brain, a developmental period that parallels that of an early second-trimester human fetus. In infected mice, subcutaneous VCD reaches the brain and suppresses viral replication within the CNS, rescuing the animals from CMV-induced brain defects and neurological problems. Treatment of uninfected control animals exerts no detectable adverse effects. VCD also blocks CMV replication in human fetal brain cells.
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