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Prentice RE, Hunt RW, Spittle AJ, Ditchfield M, Chen J, Burns M, Flanagan EK, Wright E, Ross AL, Goldberg R, Bell SJ. Well controlled maternal inflammatory bowel disease does not increase the risk of abnormal neurocognitive outcome screening in offspring. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 40:100827. [PMID: 39149622 PMCID: PMC11326492 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to maternal inflammation is associated with an increased risk of neurocognitive and developmental disorders in offspring. Early diagnosis and intervention improves childhood motor and cognitive functioning. Neonatal cerebral MRI and remote app-based generalised movement assessments (GMAs) are both predictive of adverse neurocognitive outcomes but have only been used in infants at significantly increased risk for these outcomes, rather than following in utero exposure to maternal inflammatory disorders. Methods Pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease were assessed clinically and biochemically in each trimester of pregnancy in this single centre prospective study. Neonatal cerebral MRIs were performed at 6-12 weeks post-corrected term. Two GMA videos were filmed using the 'BabyMoves' app from 12 to 16 weeks of age. MRIs and GMAs were assessed by a blinded highly qualified practitioner using validated scoring systems. Results 40/53 of invited maternal-infant dyads were recruited. C-reactive protein was elevated antenatally in less than 13%. 5/37 neonatal MRIs had incidental or obstetric trauma related gross anatomical abnormalities, with none abnormal on validated gross abnormality scoring. 3/35 GMAs were abnormal, with one GMA abnormality being clinically significant. Of those with abnormal GMAs, 2/3 were in exposed to severely active IBD in-utero. Conclusion Neonatal cerebral MRI and GMA for neurocognitive screening is feasible in the setting of maternal inflammatory bowel disease, where the risk of cerebral palsy is poorly defined and thus burdensome screening interventions are less appealing to parents. Larger studies are required to stratify adverse neurocognitive outcome risk in infants born to women with maternal inflammatory disorders, but these data are reassuring for women with IBD in remission antenatally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralley E Prentice
- Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rod W Hunt
- Department of Neonatal Medicine, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Cerebral Palsy Alliance, Australia
| | - Alicia J Spittle
- Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Victorian Infant Brain Studies, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Ditchfield
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Imaging, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeff Chen
- Department of Medical Imaging, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Megan Burns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emma K Flanagan
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Emily Wright
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alyson L Ross
- Department of Gastroenterology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Rimma Goldberg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sally J Bell
- Department of Gastroenterology, Monash Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Qiu Y, Liu Y, Gan M, Wang W, Jiang T, Jiang Y, Lv H, Lu Q, Qin R, Tao S, Huang L, Xu X, Liu C, Dou Y, Ke K, Sun T, Jiang Y, Xu B, Jin G, Ma H, Shen H, Hu Z, Lin Y, Du J. Association of prenatal multiple metal exposures with child neurodevelopment at 3 years of age: A prospective birth cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 942:173812. [PMID: 38857795 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal exposures to toxic metals and trace elements have been linked to childhood neurodevelopment. However, existing evidence remains inconclusive, and further research is needed to investigate the mixture effects of multiple metal exposures on childhood neurodevelopment. We aimed to examine the associations between prenatal exposure to specific metals and metal mixtures and neurodevelopment in children. In this prospective cohort study, we used the multivariable linear regressions and the robust modified Poisson regressions to explore the associations of prenatal exposure to 25 specific metals with neurodevelopment among children at 3 years of age in 854 mother-child pairs from the Jiangsu Birth Cohort (JBC) Study. The Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) was employed to assess the joint effects of multiple metals on neurodevelopment. Prenatal manganese (Mn) exposure was negatively associated with the risk of non-optimal cognition development of children, while vanadium (V), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), antimony (Sb), cerium (Ce) and uranium (U) exposures were positively associated with the risk of non-optimal gross motor development. BKMR identified an interaction effect between Sb and Ce on non-optimal gross motor development. Additionally, an element risk score (ERS), representing the mixture effect of multiple metal exposures including V, Cu, Zn, Sb, Ce and U was constructed based on weights from a Poisson regression model. Children with ERS in the highest tertile had higher probability of non-optimal gross motor development (RR = 2.37, 95 % CI: 1.15, 4.86) versus those at the lowest tertile. Notably, Sb [conditional-posterior inclusion probabilities (cPIP) = 0.511] and U (cPIP = 0.386) mainly contributed to the increased risk of non-optimal gross motor development. The findings highlight the importance of paying attention to the joint effects of multiple metals on children's neurodevelopment. The ERS score may serve as an indicator of comprehensive metal exposure risk for children's neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Weiting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangqian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qun Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shiyao Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyan Dou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kang Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tianyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guangfu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongbing Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jiangbo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, Jiangsu, China.
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3
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Liu Z. Genetic causal relationship between placental weight and autism spectrum disorder: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study. J Psychosom Res 2024; 184:111857. [PMID: 38991361 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111857] [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: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECT Previous research has suggested an association between placental tissue abnormalities and the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between placental weight and autism spectrum disorder. METHODS This study employed Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the potential causal relationship between placental weight and autism spectrum disorder. The study design involved two sample populations, with data for the exposed population sourced from previous studies focusing on PW, and data for the outcome population obtained from the Integrative Psychiatric Research and the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium study. To ensure the robustness of the results, three sensitivity analyses were performed, including heterogeneity testing, pleiotropy testing, and a leave-one-out analysis. The inverse variance weighted method served as the gold standard for the Mendelian randomization analysis. RESULTS The results of the first analysis revealed a significant correlation between an increase in placental weight and an elevated risk of autism spectrum disorder (p = 0.02). Sensitivity analysis detected heterogeneity and outliers. After removing two outlier SNPs in the second round of analysis, the results still supported a genetic causal relationship between placental weight and autism spectrum disorder (p = 0.01). The second-round sensitivity analysis did not reveal any heterogeneity or outliers. CONCLUSION Our study provides compelling evidence supporting a causal relationship between elevated placental weight and increased risk of autism spectrum disorder. These findings underscore the significance of placental development in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder and propose a potential early predictive indicator for autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Liu
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, China.
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4
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Scher MS. Neonatal Encephalopathy is a Complex Phenotype Representing Reproductive and Pregnancy Exposome Effects on the Maternal-Placental-Fetal Triad. Clin Perinatol 2024; 51:535-550. [PMID: 39095094 DOI: 10.1016/j.clp.2024.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Reproductive, pregnancy, and placental exposomes influence the fetal neural exposome through toxic stressor interplay, impairing the maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) triad. Neonatal encephalopathy represents different clinical presentations based on complex time-dependent etiopathogenetic mechanisms including hypoxia-ischemia that challenge diagnosis and prognosis. Reproductive, pregnancy, and placental exposomes impair the fetal neural exposome through toxic stressor interplay within the MPF triad. Long intervals often separate disease onset from phenotype. Interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology training, practice, and research closes this knowledge gap. Maintaining reproductive health preserves MPF triad health with life-course benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Scher
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Fetal/Neonatal Neurology Program, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital/ MacDonald Hospital for Women, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, 22315 Canterbury Lane, Shaker Heights, OH 44122, USA.
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5
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Gogos A, Thomson S, Drummond K, Staskova L, O'Hely M, Dawson S, Marx W, Mansell T, Burgner D, Saffery R, Sly P, Collier F, Tang ML, Symeonides C, Vuillermin P, Ponsonby AL. Socioeconomic adversity, maternal nutrition, and the prenatal programming of offspring cognition and language at two years of age through maternal inflammation. Brain Behav Immun 2024:S0889-1591(24)00556-7. [PMID: 39163911 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.08.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing rates of child neurodevelopmental vulnerability are a significant public health challenge. The adverse effect of socioeconomic adversity on offspring cognition may be mediated through elevated prenatal maternal systemic inflammation, but the role of modifiable antecedents such as maternal nutrition has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to examine (1) whether prenatal factors, with an emphasis on maternal nutrition, were associated with prenatal maternal systemic inflammation at 28 weeks' gestation, including the metabolomic marker glycoprotein acetyls (GlycA); (2) the extent to which the association between prenatal maternal nutrition and child cognition and language at age two years was mediated by elevated maternal inflammation in pregnancy; (3) the extent to which the associations between prenatal socioeconomic adversity and child neurodevelopment were mediated through prenatal maternal nutrition and GlycA levels. We used a prospective population-derived pre-birth longitudinal cohort study, the Barwon Infant Study (Barwon region of Victoria, Australia), where 1074 mother-child pairs were recruited by 28 weeks' gestation using an unselected sampling frame. Exposures included prenatal factors such as maternal diet measured by a validated food frequency questionnaire at 28 weeks' gestation and dietary patterns determined by principal component analysis. The main outcome measures were maternal inflammatory biomarkers (GlycA and hsCRP levels) at 28 weeks' gestation, and offspring Bayley-III cognition and language scores at age two years. Results showed that the 'modern wholefoods' and 'processed' maternal dietary patterns were independently associated with reduced and elevated maternal inflammation respectively (GlycA or hsCRP p < 0.001), and also with higher and reduced offspring Bayley-III scores respectively (cognition p ≤ 0.004, language p ≤ 0.009). Associations between dietary patterns and offspring cognition and language were partially mediated by higher maternal GlycA (indirect effect: cognition p ≤ 0.036, language p ≤ 0.05), but were less evident for hsCRP. The maternal dietary patterns mediated 22 % of the association between socioeconomic adversity (lower maternal education and/or lower household income vs otherwise) and poorer offspring cognition (indirect effect p = 0.001). Variation in prenatal GlycA levels that were independent of these dietary measures appeared less important. In conclusion, modifiable prenatal maternal dietary patterns were associated with adverse child neurocognitive outcomes through their effect on maternal inflammation (GlycA). Maternal diet may partially explain the association between socioeconomic adversity and child neurocognitive vulnerability. Maternal diet-by-inflammation pathways are an attractive target for future intervention studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gogos
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sarah Thomson
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Katherine Drummond
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Lada Staskova
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Martin O'Hely
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Samantha Dawson
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Wolfgang Marx
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Toby Mansell
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - David Burgner
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Sly
- Children's Health and Environment Program, Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Fiona Collier
- Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Mimi Lk Tang
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Christos Symeonides
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Peter Vuillermin
- Deakin University, IMPACT - the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, School of Medicine, Geelong, VIC, Australia; Barwon Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; University of Melbourne, Department of Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Darmstadt GL, Feldman HM. Role of perinatal inflammation in neurodevelopmental impairment of small-for-gestational age and extremely preterm infants. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03454-3. [PMID: 39143202 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03454-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Gary L Darmstadt
- Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Heidi M Feldman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Bucknor MC, Gururajan A, Dale RC, Hofer MJ. High fat diet consumption and social instability stress impair stress adaptation and maternal care in C57Bl/6 dams. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024; 169:107168. [PMID: 39146876 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Poor maternal diet and psychosocial stress represent two environmental factors that can significantly impact maternal health during pregnancy. While various mouse models have been developed to study the relationship between maternal and offspring health and behaviour, few incorporate multiple sources of stress that mirror the complexity of human experiences. Maternal high-fat diet (HF) models in rodents are well-established, whereas use of psychosocial stress interventions in female mice are still emerging. The social instability stress (SIS) paradigm, serves as a chronic and unpredictable form of social stress. To evaluate the combined effects of a poor maternal diet and intermittent social stress on maternal health and behaviour, we developed a novel maternal stress model using adult female C57Bl/6 mice. We observed that all HF+ mice demonstrated rapid weight gain, elevated fasting blood glucose levels and impaired glucose tolerance independent of the presence (+) or absence (-) of SIS. Behavioural testing output revealed anxiety-like behaviours remained similar across all groups prior to pregnancy. However, integrated anxiety z-scores revealed a mixed anxious profile amongst HF+/SIS+ females prior to pregnancy. HF+/SIS+ females also did not show reduced plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels that were observed in our other HF+ and HF- stress groups after SIS exposure. Further, HF+/SIS+ females demonstrated significant postpartum maternal neglect, resulting in fewer numbers of live offspring. These findings suggest that prolonged maternal HF diet consumption, coupled with previous exposure to SIS, places a significant burden on the maternal stress response system, resulting in reduced parental investment and negative postpartum behaviour towards offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan C Bucknor
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Anand Gururajan
- Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Russell C Dale
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Kids Neuroscience Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; The Children's Hospital at Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Markus J Hofer
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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8
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Hardie I, Murray A, King J, Hall HA, Okelo K, Luedecke E, Marryat L, Thompson L, Minnis H, Lombardo M, Wilson P, Auyeung B. Investigating low birth weight and preterm birth as potential mediators in the relationship between prenatal infections and early child development: a linked administrative health data analysis. J Epidemiol Community Health 2024; 78:585-590. [PMID: 38834230 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2023-221826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal infections are associated with childhood developmental outcomes such as reduced cognitive abilities, emotional problems and other developmental vulnerabilities. However, there is currently a lack of research examining whether this arises due to potential intermediary variables like low birth weight or preterm birth, or due to some other mechanisms of maternal immune activation arising from prenatal infections. METHODS Administrative data from the National Health Service health board of Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland, were used, linking birth records to hospital records and universal child health review records for 55 534 children born from 2011 to 2015, and their mothers. Causal mediation analysis was conducted to examine the extent to which low birth weight and preterm birth mediate the relationship between hospital-diagnosed prenatal infections and having developmental concern(s) identified by a health visitor during 6-8 weeks or 27-30 months child health reviews. RESULTS Model estimates suggest that 5.18% (95% CI 3.77% to 7.65%) of the positive association observed between hospital-diagnosed prenatal infections and developmental concern(s) was mediated by low birth weight, while 7.37% (95% CI 5.36 to 10.88%) was mediated by preterm birth. CONCLUSION Low birth weight and preterm birth appear to mediate the relationship between prenatal infections and childhood development, but only to a small extent. Maternal immune activation mechanisms unrelated to low birth weight and preterm birth remain the most likely explanation for associations observed between prenatal infections and child developmental outcomes, although other factors (for example, genetic factors) may also be involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Hardie
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aja Murray
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Josiah King
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hildigunnar Anna Hall
- Centre for Health Security and Communicable Disease Control, Directorate of Health, Reykjavik, Iceland
| | - Kenneth Okelo
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Emily Luedecke
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Louise Marryat
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Lucy Thompson
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, Inverness, UK
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gotherburg, Sweden
| | - Helen Minnis
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Michael Lombardo
- Laboratory for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rovereto, Italy
| | - Philip Wilson
- Centre for Rural Health, University of Aberdeen, Inverness, UK
- Centre for Research and Education in General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy Psychology and Language Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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9
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Levitan RD, Atkinson L, Knight JA, Hung RJ, Wade M, Jenkins JM, Bertoni K, Wong J, Murphy KE, Lye SJ, Matthews SG. Maternal major depression during early pregnancy is associated with impaired child executive functioning at 4.5 years of age. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 231:246.e1-246.e10. [PMID: 38042244 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2023.11.1252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal depression is a serious condition that affects up to 1 in 7 pregnancies. Despite evidence linking maternal depression to pregnancy complications and adverse fetal outcomes, there remain large gaps in its identification and treatment. More work is needed to define the specific timing and severity of depression that most urgently requires intervention, where feasible, to protect maternal health and the developing fetus. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to examine whether the timing and severity of maternal depression and/or anxiety during pregnancy affect child executive functioning at age 4.5 years. Executive functioning in the preschool years is a strong predictor of both school readiness and long-term quality of life. STUDY DESIGN This longitudinal observational pregnancy cohort study included a sample of 323 mother-child dyads taking part in the Ontario Birth Study, an open pregnancy cohort in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Maternal symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed at 12 to 16 and 28 to 32 weeks of gestation and at the time of child testing at age 4.5 years using the 4-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Child executive functioning was measured during a home visit using standardized computerized administration of the Flanker test (a measure of attention) and the Dimensional Change Card Sort (a measure of cognitive flexibility). Stepwise linear regressions, controlling for possible confounding variables, were used to assess the predictive value of continuous measures of maternal depression and/or anxiety symptoms at each assessment time on the Flanker test and Dimensional Change Card Sort. Posthoc general linear models were used to assess whether maternal depression severity categories (no symptom, mild symptoms, or probable major depressive disorder) were helpful in identifying children at risk. RESULTS Across all children, after controlling for potential confounds, greater maternal depressive symptoms at weeks 12 to 16 weeks of gestation predicted worse performance on both the Flanker test (ΔR2=0.058; P<.001) and the Dimensional Change Card Sort (ΔR2=0.017; P=.018). Posthoc general linear modeling further demonstrated that the children of mothers meeting the screening criteria for major depression in early pregnancy scored 11.3% lower on the Flanker test and 9.8% lower on the Dimensional Change Card Sort than the children of mothers without maternal depressive symptoms in early pregnancy. Mild depressive symptoms had no significant effect on executive function scores. There was no significant effect of anxiety symptoms or maternal antidepressant use in early pregnancy or pandemic conditions or maternal symptoms in later pregnancy or at the time of child testing on either the Flanker or Dimensional Change Card Sort results. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that fetal exposure to maternal major depression, but not milder forms of depression, at 12 to 16 weeks of gestation is associated with impaired executive functioning in the preschool years. Child executive functioning is crucial for school readiness and predicts long-term quality of life. This emphasizes an urgent need to improve the recognition and treatment of maternal major depression, particularly in early pregnancy, to limit its negative effects on the patient and on child cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert D Levitan
- Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Ontario, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Leslie Atkinson
- Department of Psychology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julia A Knight
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Rayjean J Hung
- Prosserman Centre for Population Health Research, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Epidemiology, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Wade
- Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer M Jenkins
- Department of Applied Psychology and Human Development, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kashtin Bertoni
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jody Wong
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kellie E Murphy
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen J Lye
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen G Matthews
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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10
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Foo SS, Chen W, Azamor T, Jung KL, Cambou MC, Familiar-Macedo D, Salem GM, Melano I, Sim MS, Moreira ME, Brasil P, Vasconcelos Z, Nielsen-Saines K, Jung JU. Sustained chronic inflammation and altered childhood vaccine responses in children exposed to Zika virus. EBioMedicine 2024; 106:105249. [PMID: 39024898 PMCID: PMC11304698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2024.105249] [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: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection leads to severe newborn abnormalities, but its long-term impact on childhood immunity is not well understood. This study aims to investigate the serum proteomics in children exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy to understand potential immunological consequences during early childhood. METHODS The study included ZIKV-exposed infants (ZEI) at birth (n = 42) and children exposed to ZIKV (ZEC) at two years of age (n = 20) exposed to ZIKV during pregnancy, as well as healthy controls. Serum proteomic analysis was performed on these groups to assess inflammation and immune profiles. Additionally, antibody titres against two common childhood vaccines, DTaP and MMR, were measured in healthy controls (n = 50) and ZEC (n = 92) to evaluate vaccine-induced immunity. FINDINGS Results showed elevated inflammation in ZEI with birth abnormalities. Among ZEC, despite most having normal clinical outcomes at two years, their serum proteomics indicated a bias towards Th1-mediated immune responses. Notably, ZEC displayed reduced anti-Diphtheria toxin and anti-Clostridium tetani IgG levels against DTaP and MMR vaccines. They also exhibited lower antibody titres particularly against Th2-biased DTaP vaccines, but not Th1-biased MMR vaccines. INTERPRETATION In conclusion, the study highlights the long-term immunological consequences of congenital ZIKV exposure. Heightened inflammation was observed in ZEI with abnormalities at birth, while ZEC maintained a chronic Th1-biased immune profile. The impaired response to Th2-biased vaccines raises concerns about lasting effects of ZIKV exposure on immune responses. Consequently, there is a need for continued longitudinal clinical monitoring to identify potential immune-related complications arising from prenatal exposure to ZIKV. FUNDING This work was partially funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Suan-Sin Foo
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Tamiris Azamor
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kyle L Jung
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mary Catherine Cambou
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Débora Familiar-Macedo
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Gielenny M Salem
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ivonne Melano
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Myung-Shin Sim
- Department of Medicine, Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Zilton Vasconcelos
- Department of Medicine, Statistics Core, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Karin Nielsen-Saines
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Department of Paediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jae U Jung
- Department of Infection Biology and Global Centre for Pathogen Research and Human Health, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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11
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Yotova AY, Li LL, O'Leary A, Tegeder I, Reif A, Courtney MJ, Slattery DA, Freudenberg F. Synaptic proteome perturbations after maternal immune activation: Identification of embryonic and adult hippocampal changes. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 121:351-364. [PMID: 39089536 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal immune activation (MIA) triggers neurobiological changes in offspring, potentially reshaping the molecular synaptic landscape, with the hippocampus being particularly vulnerable. However, critical details regarding developmental timing of these changes and whether they differ between males and females remain unclear. METHODS We induced MIA in C57BL/6J mice on gestational day nine using the viral mimetic poly(I:C) and performed mass spectrometry-based proteomic analyses on hippocampal synaptoneurosomes of embryonic (E18) and adult (20 ± 1 weeks) MIA offspring. RESULTS In the embryonic synaptoneurosomes, MIA led to lipid, polysaccharide, and glycoprotein metabolism pathway disruptions. In the adult synaptic proteome, we observed a dynamic shift toward transmembrane trafficking, intracellular signalling cascades, including cell death and growth, and cytoskeletal organisation. In adults, many associated pathways overlapped between males and females. However, we found distinct sex-specific enrichment of dopaminergic and glutamatergic pathways. We identified 50 proteins altered by MIA in both embryonic and adult samples (28 with the same directionality), mainly involved in presynaptic structure and synaptic vesicle function. We probed human phenome-wide association study data in the cognitive and psychiatric domains, and 49 of the 50 genes encoding these proteins were significantly associated with the investigated phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS Our data emphasise the dynamic effects of viral-like MIA on developing and mature hippocampi and provide novel targets for study following prenatal immune challenges. The 22 proteins that changed directionality from the embryonic to adult hippocampus, suggestive of compensatory over-adaptions, are particularly attractive for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Y Yotova
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Li-Li Li
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - Aet O'Leary
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Irmgard Tegeder
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Andreas Reif
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Michael J Courtney
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland; Turku Brain and Mind Center, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, 20014 Turku, Finland
| | - David A Slattery
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Florian Freudenberg
- Goethe University Frankfurt, University Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Frankfurt, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Frankfurt, Germany.
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12
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Tu G, Jiang N, Chen W, Liu L, Hu M, Liao B. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise interventions in autistic individuals. Rev Neurosci 2024; 0:revneuro-2024-0058. [PMID: 39083671 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2024-0058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder is a pervasive and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social communication difficulties and rigid, repetitive behaviors. Owing to the complex pathogenesis of autism, effective drugs for treating its core features are lacking. Nonpharmacological approaches, including education, social-communication, behavioral and psychological methods, and exercise interventions, play important roles in supporting the needs of autistic individuals. The advantages of exercise intervention, such as its low cost, easy implementation, and high acceptance, have garnered increasing attention. Exercise interventions can effectively improve the core features and co-occurring conditions of autism, but the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are unclear. Abnormal changes in the gut microbiome, neuroinflammation, neurogenesis, and synaptic plasticity may individually or interactively be responsible for atypical brain structure and connectivity, leading to specific autistic experiences and characteristics. Interestingly, exercise can affect these biological processes and reshape brain network connections, which may explain how exercise alleviates core features and co-occurring conditions in autistic individuals. In this review, we describe the definition, diagnostic approach, epidemiology, and current support strategies for autism; highlight the benefits of exercise interventions; and call for individualized programs for different subtypes of autistic individuals. Finally, the possible neurobiological mechanisms by which exercise improves autistic features are comprehensively summarized to inform the development of optimal exercise interventions and specific targets to meet the needs of autistic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genghong Tu
- Department of Sports Medicine, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Weizhong Chen
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Lining Liu
- Graduate School, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Min Hu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
| | - Bagen Liao
- Department of Sports Medicine, 47878 Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Physical Activity and Health Promotion, 47878 Scientific Research Center, Guangzhou Sport University , Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510500, P.R. China
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13
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Suleri A, Salontaji K, Luo M, Neumann A, Mulder RH, Tiemeier H, Felix JF, Marioni RE, Bergink V, Cecil CAM. Prenatal exposure to common infections and newborn DNA methylation: A prospective, population-based study. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 121:244-256. [PMID: 39084542 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infections during pregnancy have been robustly associated with adverse mental and physical health outcomes in offspring, yet the underlying molecular pathways remain largely unknown. Here, we examined whether exposure to common infections in utero associates with DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns at birth and whether this in turn relates to offspring health outcomes in the general population. METHODS Using data from 2,367 children from the Dutch population-based Generation R Study, we first performed an epigenome-wide association study to identify differentially methylated sites and regions at birth associated with prenatal infection exposure. We also examined the influence of infection timing by using self-reported cumulative infection scores for each trimester. Second, we sought to develop an aggregate methylation profile score (MPS) based on cord blood DNAm as an epigenetic proxy of prenatal infection exposure and tested whether this MPS prospectively associates with offspring health outcomes, including psychiatric symptoms, BMI, and asthma at ages 13-16 years. Third, we investigated whether prenatal infection exposure associates with offspring epigenetic age acceleration - a marker of biological aging. Across all analysis steps, we tested whether our findings replicate in 864 participants from an independent population-based cohort (ALSPAC, UK). RESULTS We observed no differentially methylated sites or regions in cord blood in relation to prenatal infection exposure, after multiple testing correction. 33 DNAm sites showed suggestive associations (p < 5e10 - 5; of which one was also nominally associated in ALSPAC), indicating potential links to genes associated with immune, neurodevelopmental, and cardiovascular pathways. While the MPS of prenatal infections associated with maternal reports of infections in the internal hold out sample in the Generation R Study (R2incremental = 0.049), it did not replicate in ALSPAC (R2incremental = 0.001), and it did not prospectively associate with offspring health outcomes in either cohort. Moreover, we observed no association between prenatal exposure to infections and epigenetic age acceleration across cohorts and clocks. CONCLUSION In contrast to prior studies, which reported DNAm differences in offspring exposed to severe infections in utero, we do not find evidence for associations between self-reported clinically evident common infections during pregnancy and DNAm or epigenetic aging in cord blood within the general pediatric population. Future studies are needed to establish whether associations exist but are too subtle to be statistically meaningful with present sample sizes, whether they replicate in a cohort with a more similar infection score as our discovery cohort, whether they occur in different tissues than cord blood, and whether other biological pathways may be more relevant for mediating the effect of prenatal common infection exposure on downstream offspring health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Suleri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kristina Salontaji
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mannan Luo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rosa H Mulder
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Riccardo E Marioni
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A M Cecil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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14
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Parenti M, Slupsky CM. Disrupted prenatal metabolism may explain the etiology of suboptimal neurodevelopment: a focus on phthalates and micronutrients and their relationship to autism spectrum disorder. Adv Nutr 2024; 15:100279. [PMID: 39059765 DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2024.100279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy is a time of high metabolic coordination, as maternal metabolism adapts to support the growing fetus. Many of these changes are coordinated by the placenta, a critical fetal endocrine organ and the site of maternal-fetal crosstalk. Dysregulation in maternal and placental metabolism during pregnancy has been linked to adverse outcomes, including altered neurodevelopment. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder linked to metabolic alterations in both children and their mothers. Prenatal environmental exposures have been linked to risk of ASD through dysregulated maternal, placental, and fetal metabolism. In this review, we focus on recent studies investigating the associations between prenatal metabolism in the maternal-placental-fetal unit and the impact of prenatal environmental exposures to phthalates and micronutrients on ASD risk. By identifying the mechanisms through which phthalates and other ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemicals influence development, and how nutritional interventions can impact those mechanisms, we can identify promising ways to prevent suboptimal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Parenti
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Carolyn M Slupsky
- Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States.
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15
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Schneider Gasser EM, Schaer R, Mueller FS, Bernhardt AC, Lin HY, Arias-Reyes C, Weber-Stadlbauer U. Prenatal immune activation in mice induces long-term alterations in brain mitochondrial function. Transl Psychiatry 2024; 14:289. [PMID: 39009558 PMCID: PMC11251165 DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-03010-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to infections is a risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring, and alterations in mitochondrial function are discussed as a potential underlying factor. Here, using a mouse model of viral-like maternal immune activation (MIA) based on poly(I:C) (POL) treatment at gestational day (GD) 12, we show that adult offspring exhibit behavioral deficits, such as reduced levels of social interaction. In addition, we found increased nicotinamidadenindinucleotid (NADH)- and succinate-linked mitochondrial respiration and maximal electron transfer capacity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and in the amygdala (AMY) of males and females. The increase in respiratory capacity resulted from an increase in mitochondrial mass in neurons (as measured by complex IV activity and transcript expression), presumably to compensate for a reduction in mitochondrion-specific respiration. Moreover, in the PFC of control (CON) male offspring a higher excess capacity compared to females was observed, which was significantly reduced in the POL-exposed male offspring, and, along with a higher leak respiration, resulted in a lower mitochondrial coupling efficiency. Transcript expression of the uncoupling proteins (UCP4 and UCP5) showed a reduction in the PFC of POL male mice, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. In addition, in the PFC of CON females, a higher expression of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD1) was observed, suggesting a higher antioxidant capacity as compared to males. Finally, transcripts analysis of genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics showed reduced expression of fission/fusion transcripts in PFC of POL offspring of both sexes. In conclusion, we show that MIA causes alterations in neuronal mitochondrial function and mass in the PFC and AMY of adult offspring with some effects differing between males and females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith M Schneider Gasser
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland.
| | - Ron Schaer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Flavia S Mueller
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra C Bernhardt
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Han-Yu Lin
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | | | - Ulrike Weber-Stadlbauer
- Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, and ETH, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
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16
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Wilson JD, Dworsky-Fried M, Ismail N. Neurodevelopmental implications of COVID-19-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis in pregnant women. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 165:104300. [PMID: 39004033 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 06/25/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The global public health emergency of COVID-19 in January 2020 prompted a surge in research focusing on the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the virus. While numerous reports have been published on the acute effects of COVID-19 infection, the review explores the multifaceted long-term implications of COVID-19, with a particular focus on severe maternal COVID-19 infection, gut microbiome dysbiosis, and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Severe COVID-19 infection has been associated with heightened immune system activation and gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe COVID-19 may also result in gut microbiome dysbiosis and a compromised intestinal mucosal barrier, often referred to as 'leaky gut'. Increased gut permeability facilitates the passage of inflammatory cytokines, originating from the inflamed intestinal mucosa and gut, into the bloodstream, thereby influencing fetal development during pregnancy and potentially elevating the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The current review discusses the role of cytokine signaling molecules, microglia, and synaptic pruning, highlighting their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders following maternal COVID-19 infection. Additionally, this review addresses the potential of probiotic interventions to mitigate gut dysbiosis and inflammatory responses associated with COVID-19, offering avenues for future research in optimizing maternal and fetal health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Wilson
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A4, Canada
| | - Michaela Dworsky-Fried
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A4, Canada
| | - Nafissa Ismail
- NISE Laboratory, School of Psychology, Faculty of Social Science, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9A4, Canada; LIFE Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5, Canada; University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada.
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17
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Mastenbroek LJM, Kooistra SM, Eggen BJL, Prins JR. The role of microglia in early neurodevelopment and the effects of maternal immune activation. Semin Immunopathol 2024; 46:1. [PMID: 38990389 PMCID: PMC11239780 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-024-01017-6] [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: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Activation of the maternal immune system during gestation has been associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring, particularly schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Microglia, the tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous system, are implicated as potential mediators of this increased risk. Early in development, microglia start populating the embryonic central nervous system and in addition to their traditional role as immune responders under homeostatic conditions, microglia are also intricately involved in various early neurodevelopmental processes. The timing of immune activation may interfere with microglia functioning during early neurodevelopment, potentially leading to long-term consequences in postnatal life. In this review we will discuss the involvement of microglia in brain development during the prenatal and early postnatal stages of life, while also examining the effects of maternal immune activation on microglia and neurodevelopmental processes. Additionally, we discuss recent single cell RNA-sequencing studies focusing on microglia during prenatal development, and hypothesize how early life microglial priming, potentially through epigenetic reprogramming, may be related to neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J M Mastenbroek
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - S M Kooistra
- Department of BioMedical Sciences, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - B J L Eggen
- Department of BioMedical Sciences, Section Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - J R Prins
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands.
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Gunter-Rahman F, Mallett S, White F, Jacques PÉ, Raju RM, Hivert MF, Lee EA. Maternal obesity and offspring neurodevelopment are associated with hypoxic gene expression in term human placenta. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.10.602900. [PMID: 39026777 PMCID: PMC11257614 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.10.602900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
One third of women in the United States are affected by obesity during pregnancy. Maternal obesity (MO) is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental and metabolic disorders in the offspring. The placenta, located at the maternal-fetal interface, is a key organ determining fetal development and likely contributes to programming of long-term offspring health. We profiled the term placental transcriptome in humans (pre-pregnancy BMI 35+ [MO condition] or 18.5-25 [lean condition]) using single-nucleus RNA-seq to compare expression profiles in MO versus lean conditions, and to reveal potential mechanisms underlying offspring disease risk. We recovered 62,864 nuclei of high quality from 10 samples each from the maternal-facing and fetal-facing sides of the placenta. On both sides in several cell types, MO was associated with upregulation of hypoxia response genes. On the maternal-facing side only, hypoxia gene expression was associated with offspring neurodevelopmental measures, in Gen3G, an independent pregnancy cohort with bulk placental tissue RNA-seq. We leveraged Gen3G to determine genes that correlated with impaired neurodevelopment and found these genes to be most highly expressed in extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). EVTs further showed the strongest correlation between neurodevelopment impairment gene scores (NDIGSs) and the hypoxia gene score. We reanalyzed gene expression of cultured EVTs, and found increased NDIGSs associated with exposure to hypoxia. Among EVTs, accounting for the hypoxia gene score attenuated 44% of the association between BMI and NDIGSs. These data suggest that hypoxia in EVTs may be a key process in the neurodevelopmental programming of fetal exposure to MO.
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Scher MS. Interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology training improves brain health across the lifespan. Front Neurol 2024; 15:1411987. [PMID: 39026582 PMCID: PMC11254674 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1411987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Integrated fetal, neonatal, and pediatric training constitute an interdisciplinary fetal-neonatal neurology (FNN) program. A dynamic neural exposome concept strengthens curriculum content. Trainees participate in mentoring committee selection for guidance during a proposed two-year program. Prenatal to postnatal clinical learning re-enforces early toxic stressor interplay that influences gene-environment interactions. Maternal-placental-fetal triad, neonatal, or childhood diseases require diagnostic and therapeutic decisions during the first 1,000 days when 80 % of neural connections contribute to life-course phenotypic expression. Pediatric follow-up through 3 years adjusts to gestational ages of preterm survivors. Cumulative reproductive, pregnancy, pediatric and adult exposome effects require educational experiences that emphasize a principle-to-practice approach to a brain capital strategy across the lifespan. More rigorous training during fetal, neonatal, and pediatric rotations will be offered to full time trainees. Adult neurology residents, medical students, and trainees from diverse disciplines will learn essential topics during time-limited rotations. Curriculum content will require periodic re-assessments using educational science standards that maintain competence while promoting creative and collaborative problem-solving. Continued career-long learning by FNN graduates will strengthen shared healthcare decisions by all stakeholders. Recognition of adaptive or maladaptive neuroplasticity mechanisms requires analytic skills that identify phenotypes associated with disease pathways. Developmental origins and life-course concepts emphasize brain health across the developmental-aging continuum, applicable to interdisciplinary research collaborations. Social determinants of health recognize diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities with each neurological intervention, particularly for those challenged with disparities. Diagnostic and therapeutic strategies must address resource challenges particularly throughout the Global South to effectively lower the worldwide burden of neurologic disease. Sustainable development goals proposed by the World Health Organization offer universally applicable guidelines in response to ongoing global and regional polycrises. Gender, race, ethnicity, and socio-economic equality promote effective preventive, rescue and reparative neuroprotective interventions. Global synergistic efforts can be enhanced by establishing leadership within academic teaching hubs in FNN training to assist with structure and guidance for smaller healthcare facilities in each community that will improve practice, education and research objectives. Reduced mortality with an improved quality of life must prioritize maternal-pediatric health and well-being to sustain brain health across each lifespan with transgenerational benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S. Scher
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Fetal/Neonatal Neurology Program, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, United States
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Suleri A, Gaiser C, Cecil CAM, Dijkzeul A, Neumann A, Labrecque JA, White T, Bergink V, Muetzel RL. Examining longitudinal associations between prenatal exposure to infections and child brain morphology. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:965-977. [PMID: 38750701 PMCID: PMC7616133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Maternal infection during pregnancy has been identified as a prenatal risk factor for the later development of psychopathology in exposed offspring. Neuroimaging data collected during childhood has suggested a link between prenatal exposure to maternal infection and child brain structure and function, potentially offering a neurobiological explanation for the emergence of psychopathology. Additionally, preclinical studies utilizing repeated measures of neuroimaging data suggest that effects of prenatal maternal infection on the offspring's brain may normalize over time (i.e., catch-up growth). However, it remains unclear whether exposure to prenatal maternal infection in humans is related to long-term differential neurodevelopmental trajectories. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the association between prenatal exposure to infections on child brain development over time using repeated measures MRI data. METHODS We leveraged data from a population-based cohort, Generation R, in which we examined prospectively assessed self-reported infections at each trimester of pregnancy (N = 2,155). We further used three neuroimaging assessments (at mean ages 8, 10 and 14) to obtain cortical and subcortical measures of the offspring's brain morphology with MRI. Hereafter, we applied linear mixed-effects models, adjusting for several confounding factors, to estimate the association of prenatal maternal infection with child brain development over time. RESULTS We found that prenatal exposure to infection in the third trimester was associated with a slower decrease in volumes of the pars orbitalis, rostral anterior cingulate and superior frontal gyrus, and a faster increase in the middle temporal gyrus. In the temporal pole we observed a divergent pattern, specifically showing an increase in volume in offspring exposed to more infections compared to a decrease in volume in offspring exposed to fewer infections. We further observed associations in other frontal and temporal lobe structures after exposure to infections in any trimester, though these did not survive multiple testing correction. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that prenatal exposure to infections in the third trimester may be associated with slower age-related growth in the regions: pars orbitalis, rostral anterior cingulate and superior frontal gyrus, and faster age-related growth in the middle temporal gyrus across childhood, suggesting a potential sensitive period. Our results might be interpreted as an extension of longitudinal findings from preclinical studies, indicating that children exposed to prenatal infections could exhibit catch-up growth. However, given the lack of differences in brain volume between various infection groups at baseline, there may instead be either a longitudinal deviation or a subtle temporal deviation. Subsequent well-powered studies that extend into the period of full brain development (∼25 years) are needed to confirm whether the observed phenomenon is indeed catch-up growth, a longitudinal deviation, or a subtle temporal deviation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Suleri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carolin Gaiser
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A M Cecil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Annet Dijkzeul
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jeremy A Labrecque
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tonya White
- Section on Social and Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Ryan L Muetzel
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
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21
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Pike MR, Lipner E, O'Brien KJ, Breen EC, Cohn BA, Cirillo PM, Krigbaum NY, Kring AM, Olino TM, Alloy LB, Ellman LM. Prenatal maternal Inflammation, childhood cognition and adolescent depressive symptoms. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 119:908-918. [PMID: 38761818 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence indicates that higher prenatal maternal inflammation is associated with increased depression risk in adolescent and adult-aged offspring. Prenatal maternal inflammation (PNMI) may increase the likelihood for offspring to have lower cognitive performance, which, in turn, may heighten risk for depression onset. Therefore, this study explored the potential mediating role of childhood cognitive performance in the relationship between PNMI and adolescent depressive symptoms in offspring. METHODS Participants included 696 mother-offspring dyads from the Child Health and Development Studies (CHDS) cohort. Biomarkers of maternal inflammation [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) and soluble TNF receptor-II (sTNF-RII)] were assayed from first (T1) and second trimester (T2) sera. Childhood (ages 9-11) cognitive performance was assessed via standardized Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT), a measure of receptive vocabulary correlated with general intelligence. Adolescent (ages 15-17) depressive symptoms were assessed via self-report. RESULTS There were no significant associations between T1 biomarkers and childhood PPVT or adolescent depressive symptoms. Higher T2 IL1-RA was directly associated with lower childhood PPVT (b = -0.21, SE = 0.08, t = -2.55, p = 0.01), but not with adolescent depressive symptoms. T2 IL-6 was not directly associated with childhood PPVT, but higher T2 IL-6 was directly associated at borderline significance with greater depressive symptoms in adolescence (b = 0.05, SE = 0.03, t = 1.96, p = 0.05). Lower childhood PPVT predicted significantly higher adolescent depressive symptoms (b = -0.07, SE = 0.02, t = -2.99, p < 0.01). There was a significant indirect effect of T2 IL-1RA on adolescent depressive symptoms via childhood PPVT (b = 0.03, 95 % CI = 0.002-0.03) indicating a partially mediated effect. No significant associations were found with T2 sTNF-RII nor IL-8. CONCLUSIONS Lower childhood cognitive performance, such as that indicated by a lower PPVT score, represents a potential mechanism through which prenatal maternal inflammation contributes to adolescent depression risk in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline R Pike
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
| | - Emily Lipner
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Kathleen J O'Brien
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Breen
- Cousins Center for Psychoneuroimmunology, University of California-Los Angeles, 300 Medical Plaza, Suite 3306, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7076, USA
| | - Barbara A Cohn
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, 1683 Shattuck Ave., Suite B, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Piera M Cirillo
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, 1683 Shattuck Ave., Suite B, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Nickilou Y Krigbaum
- Child Health and Development Studies, Public Health Institute, 1683 Shattuck Ave., Suite B, Berkeley, CA 94709, USA
| | - Ann M Kring
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Psychology, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Thomas M Olino
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Lauren B Alloy
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
| | - Lauren M Ellman
- Temple University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, 1701 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA
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Suleri A, Rommel AS, Neumann A, Luo M, Hillegers M, de Witte L, Bergink V, Cecil CAM. Exposure to prenatal infection and the development of internalizing and externalizing problems in children: a longitudinal population-based study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024; 65:874-886. [PMID: 38158849 PMCID: PMC7616076 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.13923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large body of work has reported a link between prenatal exposure to infection and increased psychiatric risk in offspring. However, studies to date have focused primarily on exposure to severe prenatal infections and/or individual psychiatric diagnoses in clinical samples, typically measured at single time points, and without accounting for important genetic and environmental confounders. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to common infections during pregnancy is prospectively associated with repeatedly assessed child psychiatric symptoms in a large population-based study. METHODS Our study was embedded in a prospective pregnancy cohort (Generation R; n = 3,598 mother-child dyads). We constructed a comprehensive prenatal infection score comprising common infections for each trimester of pregnancy. Child total, internalizing, and externalizing problems were assessed repeatedly using the parent-rated Child Behavioral Checklist (average age: 1.5, 3, 6, 10, and 14 years). Linear mixed-effects models were run adjusting for a range of confounders, including child polygenic scores for psychopathology, maternal chronic illness, birth complications, and infections during childhood. We also investigated trimester-specific effects and child sex as a potential moderator. RESULTS Prenatal exposure to infections was associated with higher child total, internalizing, and externalizing problems, showing temporally persistent effects, even after adjusting for important genetic and environmental confounders. We found no evidence that prenatal infections were associated with changes in child psychiatric symptoms over time. Moreover, in our trimester-specific analysis, we did not find evidence of significant timing effects of prenatal infection on child psychiatric symptoms. No interactions with child sex were identified. CONCLUSIONS Our research adds to evidence that common prenatal infections may be a risk factor for psychiatric symptoms in children. We also extend previous findings by showing that these associations are present early on, and that rather than changing over time, they persist into adolescence. However, unmeasured confounding may still explain in part these associations. In the future, employing more advanced causal inference designs will be crucial to establishing the degree to which these effects are causal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Suleri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anna-Sophie Rommel
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Neumann
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mannan Luo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Manon Hillegers
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lotje de Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Veerle Bergink
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte A. M. Cecil
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry/Psychology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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Zhao Q, Hu Y, Yan Y, Song X, Yu J, Wang W, Zhou S, Su X, Bloch MH, Leckman JF, Chen Y, Sun H. The effects of Shaoma Zhijing granules and its main components on Tourette syndrome. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 129:155686. [PMID: 38759346 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tourette syndrome (TS) represents a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an uncertain etiology and influencing factors. Frequently, it co-occurs with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and sleep disturbances, which have garnered substantial attention from the research community in recent years. Clinical trials have demonstrated that Shaoma Zhijing Granules (SMZJG, 5-ling granule, also known as TSupport or T92 under U.S. development), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, is an effective treatment for TS. PURPOSE To conduct scientometric analysis on developing trends, research countries and institutions, current status, hot spots of TS and discuss the underlying mechanisms of SMZJG and its main components on TS. The aim is to provide valuable reference for ongoing clinical and basic research on TS and SMZJG. STUDY DESIGN & METHODS Using Tourette syndrome, SMZJG and its main components along with their synonyms as keywords, we conducted a comprehensive search across major scientific databases including the Web of Science Core Collection, PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases. A total of 5952 references and 99 patents were obtained. Among these, 5039 articles and reviews, as well as 54 patents were analyzed by Citespace and VOSviewer software. RESULTS The available evidence indicates that the SMZJG's components likely exert their mechanisms in treating TS by regulating the dopaminergic pathway system, neurotransmitter imbalances, reducing neuroinflammation, promoting the repair of nerve damage and improving sleep disorders. CONCLUSION This comprehensive analysis lays the foundation for an extensive exploration of the feasibility and clinical applications of SMZJG in TS treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhao
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Yunhui Hu
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Yiman Yan
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Xujiao Song
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Jie Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Shuiping Zhou
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China
| | - Xuefeng Su
- Tasly Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Michael H Bloch
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - James F Leckman
- Yale Child Study Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Yibing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Haihe Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - He Sun
- Tasly Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300410, China; National Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization. Tianjin 300193, China; Tasly Pharmaceuticals Inc., Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
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Nikodemova M, Oberto JR, Berschel MR, Michaelson AL, Watters JJ, Mitchell GS. Acute Postnatal Inflammation Alters Adult Microglial Responses to LPS that Are Sex-, Region- and Timing of Postnatal Inflammation-Dependent. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-4565866. [PMID: 38978595 PMCID: PMC11230508 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4565866/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Background Adverse events in early life can have impact lasting into adulthood. We investigated the long-term effects of systemic inflammation during postnatal development on adult microglial responses to LPS in two CNS regions (cortex, cervical spinal cord) in male and female rats. Methods Inflammation was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 mg/kg) administered intraperitoneally during postnatal development at P7, P12 or P18. As adults (12 weeks of age), the rats received a second LPS dose (1 mg/kg). Control rats received saline. Microglia were isolated 3 hours post-LPS from the cortex and cervical spinal cord. Gene expression was assessed via qRT-PCR for pro-inflammatory (IL-6, iNOS, Ptgs2, C/EBPb, CD14, CXCL10), anti-inflammatory (CD68, Arg-1), and homeostatic genes (P2Y12, Tmemm119). CSF-1 and CX3CL1 mRNA was analyzed in microglia-free homogenates. Results Basal gene expression in adult microglia was largely unaffected by early life LPS. Changes in adult microglial pro-inflammatory genes in response to LPS were either unchanged or attenuated in rats exposed to LPS during postnatal development. Ptgs2, C/EBPb, CXCL10 and Arg-1 were the genes most affected, with expression levels significantly downregulated vs control rats without postnatal LPS exposure. Cortical microglia were affected more by postnatal inflammation than spinal microglia, and males were more impacted than females. Overall, inflammatory challenge at P18 had the greatest effect on adult microglial gene expression, whereas challenge at P7 had less impact. Microglial homeostatic genes were unaffected by postnatal LPS. Conclusions Long-lasting effects of postnatal inflammation on adult microglia depend on the timing of postnatal inflammation, CNS region and sex.
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Hardie I, Murray A, King J, Hall HA, Luedecke E, Marryat L, Thompson L, Minnis H, Wilson P, Auyeung B. Prenatal maternal infections and early childhood developmental outcomes: analysis of linked administrative health data for Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2024. [PMID: 38934255 DOI: 10.1111/jcpp.14028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has linked prenatal maternal infections to later childhood developmental outcomes and socioemotional difficulties. However, existing studies have relied on retrospectively self-reported survey data, or data on hospital-recorded infections only, resulting in gaps in data collection. METHODS This study used a large linked administrative health dataset, bringing together data from birth records, hospital records, prescriptions and routine child health reviews for 55,856 children born in Greater Glasgow & Clyde, Scotland, 2011-2015, and their mothers. Logistic regression models examined associations between prenatal infections, measured as both hospital-diagnosed prenatal infections and receipt of infection-related prescription(s) during pregnancy, and childhood developmental concern(s) identified by health visitors during 6-8 week or 27-30 month health reviews. Secondary analyses examined whether results varied by (a) specific developmental outcome types (gross-motor-skills, hearing-communication, vision-social-awareness, personal-social, emotional-behavioural-attention and speech-language-communication) and (b) the trimester(s) in which infections occurred. RESULTS After confounder/covariate adjustment, hospital-diagnosed infections were associated with increased odds of having at least one developmental concern (OR: 1.30; 95% CI: 1.19-1.42). This was broadly consistent across all developmental outcome types and appeared to be specifically linked to infections occurring in pregnancy trimesters 2 (OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.07-1.67) and 3 (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.21-1.47), that is the trimesters in which foetal brain myelination occurs. Infection-related prescriptions were not associated with any clear increase in odds of having at least one developmental concern after confounder/covariate adjustment (OR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.98-1.08), but were associated with slightly increased odds of concerns specifically related to personal-social (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03-1.22) and emotional-behavioural-attention (OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.08-1.22) development. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal infections, particularly those which are hospital-diagnosed (and likely more severe), are associated with early childhood developmental outcomes. Prevention of prenatal infections, and monitoring of support needs of affected children, may improve childhood development, but causality remains to be established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain Hardie
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Aja Murray
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Josiah King
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Hildigunnur Anna Hall
- Centre for Health Security and Communicable Disease Control, Directorate of Health, Reykjavík, Iceland
| | - Emily Luedecke
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Louise Marryat
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Lucy Thompson
- Centre for Rural Health, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Helen Minnis
- School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Philip Wilson
- Centre for Rural Health, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
- Centre for Research and Education in General Practice, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bonnie Auyeung
- Department of Psychology, School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Lecoquierre F, Punt AM, Ebstein F, Wallaard I, Verhagen R, Studencka-Turski M, Duffourd Y, Moutton S, Tran Mau-Them F, Philippe C, Dean J, Tennant S, Brooks AS, van Slegtenhorst MA, Jurgens JA, Barry BJ, Chan WM, England EM, Martinez Ojeda M, Engle EC, Robson CD, Morrow M, Innes AM, Lamont R, Sanderson M, Krüger E, Thauvin C, Distel B, Faivre L, Elgersma Y, Vitobello A. A recurrent missense variant in the E3 ubiquitin ligase substrate recognition subunit FEM1B causes a rare syndromic neurodevelopmental disorder. Genet Med 2024; 26:101119. [PMID: 38465576 PMCID: PMC11257750 DOI: 10.1016/j.gim.2024.101119] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Fem1 homolog B (FEM1B) acts as a substrate recognition subunit for ubiquitin ligase complexes belonging to the CULLIN 2-based E3 family. Several biological functions have been proposed for FEM1B, including a structurally resolved function as a sensor for redox cell status by controlling mitochondrial activity, but its implication in human disease remains elusive. METHODS To understand the involvement of FEM1B in human disease, we made use of Matchmaker exchange platforms to identify individuals with de novo variants in FEM1B and performed their clinical evaluation. We performed functional validation using primary neuronal cultures and in utero electroporation assays, as well as experiments on patient's cells. RESULTS Five individuals with a recurrent de novo missense variant in FEM1B were identified: NM_015322.5:c.377G>A NP_056137.1:p.(Arg126Gln) (FEM1BR126Q). Affected individuals shared a severe neurodevelopmental disorder with behavioral phenotypes and a variable set of malformations, including brain anomalies, clubfeet, skeletal abnormalities, and facial dysmorphism. Overexpression of the FEM1BR126Q variant but not FEM1B wild-type protein, during mouse brain development, resulted in delayed neuronal migration of the target cells. In addition, the individuals' cells exhibited signs of oxidative stress and induction of type I interferon signaling. CONCLUSION Overall, our data indicate that p.(Arg126Gln) induces aberrant FEM1B activation, resulting in a gain-of-function mechanism associated with a severe syndromic developmental disorder in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Lecoquierre
- Univ Rouen Normandie, Inserm U1245 and CHU Rouen, Department of Genetics and reference center for developmental disorders, Rouen, France; UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France.
| | - A Mattijs Punt
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frédéric Ebstein
- Institut für Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (IMBM), Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany; Nantes Université, INSERM, CNRS, l'institut du thorax, Nantes Cedex 1, France
| | - Ilse Wallaard
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rob Verhagen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maja Studencka-Turski
- Institut für Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (IMBM), Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Yannis Duffourd
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Sébastien Moutton
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - Frédédic Tran Mau-Them
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France; Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Christophe Philippe
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France; Laboratoire de Génétique, CHR Metz-Thionville, Hôpital Mercy, Metz, France
| | - John Dean
- Department of Medical Genetics, NHS Grampian, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Tennant
- NHS Grampian, Genetics & Molecular Pathology Laboratory Services, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Alice S Brooks
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Julie A Jurgens
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Brenda J Barry
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD
| | - Wai-Man Chan
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD
| | - Eleina M England
- Center for Mendelian Genomics, Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA; Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
| | | | - Elizabeth C Engle
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD; Department of Ophthalmology, Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Caroline D Robson
- Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA; Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - A Micheil Innes
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute for Child and Maternal Health and Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Ryan Lamont
- Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute for Child and Maternal Health and Department of Medical Genetics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Matthea Sanderson
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Elke Krüger
- Institut für Medizinische Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (IMBM), Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Christel Thauvin
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France; Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France; Centre de référence maladies rares « Déficiences Intellectuelles de Causes Rares », Centre de Génétique, FHU-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Ben Distel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence Faivre
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France; Centre de Référence maladies rares « Anomalies du Développement et Syndromes Malformatifs », Centre de Génétique, FHU-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Ype Elgersma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; ENCORE Expertise Center for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- UMR1231 GAD, Inserm, Université Bourgogne-Franche Comté, Dijon, France; Unité Fonctionnelle Innovation en Diagnostic Génomique des Maladies Rares, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire-TRANSLAD, CHU Dijon Bourgogne, Dijon, France
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Li A, Schwartz DA, Vo A, VanAbel R, Coler C, Li E, Lukman B, Del Rosario B, Vong A, Li M, Adams Waldorf KM. Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy on the placenta and fetus. Semin Perinatol 2024; 48:151919. [PMID: 38897829 PMCID: PMC11288977 DOI: 10.1016/j.semperi.2024.151919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Pregnant people and their fetuses are vulnerable to adverse health outcomes from coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID-19) due to infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 has been associated with higher rates of maternal mortality, preterm birth, and stillbirth. While SARS-CoV-2 infection of the placenta and vertical transmission is rare, this may be due to the typically longer time interval between maternal infection and testing of the placenta and neonate. Placental injury is evident in cases of SARS-CoV-2-associated stillbirth with massive perivillous fibrin deposition, chronic histiocytic intervillositis, and trophoblast necrosis. Maternal COVID-19 can also polarize fetal immunity, which may have long-term effects on neurodevelopment. Although the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, the impact of emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants on placental and perinatal injury/mortality remains concerning for maternal and perinatal health. Here, we highlight the impact of COVID-19 on the placenta and fetus and remaining knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - David A Schwartz
- Perinatal Pathology Consulting, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Andrew Vo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Roslyn VanAbel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Celeste Coler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Edmunda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Bryan Lukman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Briana Del Rosario
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ashley Vong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Miranda Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Kristina M Adams Waldorf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America; Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States of America.
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28
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Ellul P, Wallez S, Acquaviva E, Rosenzwajg M, Klatzmann D, Delorme R, Melchior M. Children with a history of both maternal immune activation and prematurity are not at increased risk of ADHD symptoms. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2024; 33:2001-2004. [PMID: 37535256 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-023-02276-8] [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: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Maternal autoimmune diseases (AID) are risk factors for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Animal studies suggest that maternal immune activation (MIA) is a disease primer for ADHD, with second environmental factor precipitating the onset of the disease. Prematurity is also a major risk factor for ADHD. In this study, we sought to explore the interaction between parental AID and prematurity on ADHD risk in a community sample. Children of AID parents born prematurely appeared at increased odds of ADHD but these two risk factors do not appear to be additive (OR 1.39 [95 CI 0.75; 2.46]). Longitudinal studies with larger numbers of participants are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ellul
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, University of Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Immunology, Immunopathology, Immunotherapy, INSERM U959, Pitié Salpétrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Solène Wallez
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, ERES, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Eric Acquaviva
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, University of Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Michelle Rosenzwajg
- Immunology, Immunopathology, Immunotherapy, INSERM U959, Pitié Salpétrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - David Klatzmann
- Immunology, Immunopathology, Immunotherapy, INSERM U959, Pitié Salpétrière Hospital, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Richard Delorme
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department, Robert Debré Hospital, University of Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Human Genetics and Cognitive Functions Unit, Pasteur Institute Paris, Paris, France
| | - Maria Melchior
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d'Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, IPLESP, ERES, 75012, Paris, France.
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29
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Buonfiglioli A, Kübler R, Missall R, De Jong R, Chan S, Haage V, Wendt S, Lin AJ, Mattei D, Graziani M, Latour B, Gigase F, Nygaard HB, De Jager PL, De Witte LD. A microglia-containing cerebral organoid model to study early life immune challenges. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.24.595814. [PMID: 38826204 PMCID: PMC11142229 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.24.595814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs. How the maternal as well as the fetal immune system affect human neurodevelopment and contribute to NDDs remains unclear. An important reason for this knowledge gap is the fact that the impact of exposure to prenatal risk factors has been challenging to study in the human context. Here, we characterized a model of cerebral organoids (CO) with integrated microglia (COiMg). These organoids express typical microglial markers and respond to inflammatory stimuli. The presence of microglia influences cerebral organoid development, including cell density and neural differentiation, and regulates the expression of several ciliated mesenchymal cell markers. Moreover, COiMg and organoids without microglia show similar but also distinct responses to inflammatory stimuli. Additionally, IFN-γ induced significant transcriptional and structural changes in the cerebral organoids, that appear to be regulated by the presence of microglia. Specifically, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was found to alter the expression of genes linked to autism. This model provides a valuable tool to study how inflammatory perturbations and microglial presence affect neurodevelopmental processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Buonfiglioli
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Raphael Kübler
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Roy Missall
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Renske De Jong
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Stephanie Chan
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Verena Haage
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stefan Wendt
- Department of Psychiatry, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Ada J. Lin
- Division of Neurology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Daniele Mattei
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mara Graziani
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Brooke Latour
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Frederieke Gigase
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Haakon B. Nygaard
- Division of Neurology, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Philip L. De Jager
- Center for Translational & Computational Neuroimmunology, Department of Neurology and the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lot D. De Witte
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Psychiatry, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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30
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Fajardo-Martinez V, Ferreira F, Fuller T, Cambou MC, Kerin T, Paiola S, Mok T, Rao R, Mohole J, Paravastu R, Zhang D, Marschik P, Iyer S, Kesavan K, Borges Lopes MDC, Britto JAA, Moreira ME, Brasil P, Nielsen-Saines K. Neurodevelopmental delay in children exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 in-utero. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11851. [PMID: 38789553 PMCID: PMC11126599 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61918-2] [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: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
It is unclear if SARS CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse neurodevelopmental repercussions to infants. We assessed pediatric neurodevelopmental outcomes in children born to mothers with laboratory-confirmed SARS CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Neurodevelopmental outcomes of in-utero exposed children were compared to that of pre-pandemic control children in Los Angeles (LA), CA, USA and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, 3rd edition (Bayley-III), the gold standard tool for evaluating neurodevelopment until 36 months of age and Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ-3), a frequently used screening instrument for evaluating neurodevelopment in this same age group were the assessment tools used. Developmental delay (DD) was defined as having a score < - 2 SD below the norm (< 70) in at least one of three Bayley-III domains, (cognitive, motor or language) or a score below the cut-off (dark zone) in at least one of five ASQ-3 domains (communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, personal-social). Exposed children were born between April 2020 and December 2022 while control children were born between January 2016 to December 2019. Neurodevelopmental testing was performed in 300 children total: 172 COVID-19 exposed children between 5-30 months of age and 128 control children between 6-38 months of age. Bayley-III results demonstrated that 12 of 128 exposed children (9.4%) had DD versus 2 of 128 controls (1.6%), p = 0.0007. Eight of 44 additional exposed children had DD on ASQ-3 testing. Fully, 20 of 172 exposed children (11.6%) and 2 of 128 control children (1.6%), p = 0.0006 had DD. In Rio, 12% of exposed children versus 2.6% of controls, p = 0.02 had DD. In LA, 5.7% of exposed children versus 0 controls, p = 0.12 had DD. Severe/critical maternal COVID-19 predicted below average neurodevelopment in the exposed cohort (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1-6.4). Children exposed to antenatal COVID-19 have a tenfold higher frequency of DD as compared to controls and should be offered neurodevelopmental follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Trevon Fuller
- UCLA Institute for the Environment and Sustainability, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | | | - Tara Kerin
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Sophia Paiola
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thalia Mok
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rashmi Rao
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jyodi Mohole
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Dajie Zhang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen and Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience (IDN), Division of Phoniatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Peter Marschik
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen and Leibniz ScienceCampus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Developmental Neuroscience (IDN), Division of Phoniatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sai Iyer
- David Geffen, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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31
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Wang W, Meng Q, Hu L, Du J, Xu B, Han X, Liu X, Zhou K, Ke K, Gan M, Zhu X, Peng Y, Xue H, Xiao S, Lv H, Jiang Y, Jiang T, Ma H, Ling X, Hu Z, Lin Y. Assisted reproductive technology and neurodevelopment in children at 1 year of age: a longitudinal birth cohort study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024:S0002-9378(24)00625-2. [PMID: 38782229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With remarkable advancements in assisted reproductive technology (ART), the number of ART-conceived children continues to increase. Despite increased research investigating the outcomes of ART children, evidence on neurodevelopment remains controversial. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the association between ART use and neurodevelopment in children at 1 year of age and to determine whether the characteristics of parental infertility and specific ART procedures affect neurodevelopment in children. STUDY DESIGN The Jiangsu Birth Cohort enrolled couples who received ART treatment and who conceived spontaneously (2014-2020) in Jiangsu Province, China. In this study, we included 3531 pregnancies with 3840 cohort children who completed neurodevelopment assessment at 1 year of age, including 1906 infants conceived by ART (including 621 twins). Poisson regressions were fitted to estimate unadjusted and adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for ART use with neurodevelopmental outcomes (cognition, receptive communication, expressive communication, fine motor, and gross motor) in children. RESULTS Among singletons, ART use was associated with a 24% to 34% decrease in the risk for noncompetent development in 3 domains (cognition, adjusted RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53-0.82; receptive communication, 0.76; 0.64-0.91; expressive communication, 0.69; 0.51-0.93) after adjustment for conventional covariates. However, an inverse association was observed in the gross motor domain, with ART singletons having a greater risk of being noncompetent in gross motor development than their non-ART counterparts (adjusted RR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.11-1.79). Compared with singletons, twins resulting from ART treatment demonstrated compromised neurodevelopment in several domains. Furthermore, we continued to observe that the transfer of 'poor' quality embryos was associated with greater risks for noncompetent development in receptive communication (adjusted RR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.05-2.14) and gross motor domains (1.55; 1.02-2.36) among ART singletons. CONCLUSION These results generally provide reassuring evidence among singletons born after ART in the cognition, communication, and fine motor domains, but drawn attention to their gross motor development. The quality of transferred embryos in ART treatment might be associated with offspring neurodevelopment; however, the potential associations warrant further validation in independent studies, and the clinical significance needs careful interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qingxia Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Reproductive Genetic Center, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingmin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Reproduction, Changzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiangbo Du
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiumei Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kun Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kang Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xianxian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuting Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huixin Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuxin Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yangqian Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxia Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiufeng Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Reproduction, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China; Department of Epidemiology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Yuan Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health (Suzhou Centre), The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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Yan S, Wang L, Samsom JN, Ujic D, Liu F. PolyI:C Maternal Immune Activation on E9.5 Causes the Deregulation of Microglia and the Complement System in Mice, Leading to Decreased Synaptic Spine Density. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5480. [PMID: 38791517 PMCID: PMC11121703 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders; however, animal models developed to explore MIA mechanisms are sensitive to experimental factors, which has led to complexity in previous reports of the MIA phenotype. We sought to characterize an MIA protocol throughout development to understand how prenatal immune insult alters the trajectory of important neurodevelopmental processes, including the microglial regulation of synaptic spines and complement signaling. We used polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (polyI:C) to induce MIA on gestational day 9.5 in CD-1 mice, and measured their synaptic spine density, microglial synaptic pruning, and complement protein expression. We found reduced dendritic spine density in the somatosensory cortex starting at 3-weeks-of-age with requisite increases in microglial synaptic pruning and phagocytosis, suggesting spine density loss was caused by increased microglial synaptic pruning. Additionally, we showed dysregulation in complement protein expression persisting into adulthood. Our findings highlight disruptions in the prenatal environment leading to alterations in multiple dynamic processes through to postnatal development. This could potentially suggest developmental time points during which synaptic processes could be measured as risk factors or targeted with therapeutics for neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuxin Yan
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Le Wang
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institute of Mental Health and Drug Discovery, Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain Health), School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Ouhai District, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - James Nicholas Samsom
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
| | - Daniel Ujic
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institutes of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Fang Liu
- Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada; (S.Y.); (L.W.); (J.N.S.); (D.U.)
- Institutes of Medical Science, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Cir., Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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胡 云, 田 耕, 刘 蒙, 汪 鸿. [Advances in Mendelian randomization studies on autism spectrum disorder]. ZHONGGUO DANG DAI ER KE ZA ZHI = CHINESE JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PEDIATRICS 2024; 26:535-540. [PMID: 38802917 PMCID: PMC11135060 DOI: 10.7499/j.issn.1008-8830.2311030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder with onset in infancy or early childhood. Mendelian randomization (MR) is a statistical method used to infer causal relationships between exposures and outcomes. This article summarizes MR studies related to ASD. Existing research supports a causal relationship between maternal inflammatory bowel disease in children with ASD, parental education levels, screen time exposure, obesity, insomnia, serum transferrin, decreased blood selenium, abnormal signals in brain functional MRI, interleukin-6, phosphodiesterase 2A, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3, mitochondrial ribosomal protein L33, serotonin, and ASD. However, it does not support a causal relationship between parental rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, neonatal jaundice in children with ASD, cytomegalovirus infection, asthma, oral ulcers, vitamin D levels, and ASD. This article reviews the etiological factors related to ASD and MR studies, aiming to explore and deepen the understanding of the pathophysiology of ASD. It provides strong statistical support for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ASD, and offers new methods and strategies for the etiological analysis of complex traits.
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Schwartzer JJ, Church JS, Russo JN, Ragoonaden S. Offspring behavioral outcomes following maternal allergic asthma in the IL-4-deficient mouse. J Neuroimmunol 2024; 390:578341. [PMID: 38613873 PMCID: PMC11088503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578341] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Maternal allergic asthma (MAA) during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in humans, and rodent studies have demonstrated that inducing a T helper-2-mediated allergic response during pregnancy leads to an offspring behavioral phenotype characterized by decreased social interaction and increased stereotypies. The interleukin (IL)-4 cytokine is hypothesized to mediate the neurobehavioral impact of MAA on offspring. Utilizing IL-4 knockout mice, this study assessed whether MAA without IL-4 signaling would still impart behavioral deficits. C57 and IL-4 knockout female mice were sensitized to ovalbumin, exposed to repeated MAA inductions, and their offspring performed social, cognitive, and motor tasks. Only C57 offspring of MAA dams displayed social and cognitive deficits, while IL-4 knockout mice showed altered motor activity compared with C57 mice. These findings highlight a key role for IL-4 signaling in MAA-induced behavioral deficits and more broadly in normal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared J Schwartzer
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA.
| | - Jamie S Church
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Jenna N Russo
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Shanthini Ragoonaden
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
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Morimoto K, Takahashi R, Takahashi G, Miyajima M, Nakajima K. Maternal immunoglobulins are distributed in the offspring's brain to support the maintenance of cortical interneurons in the postnatal period. Inflamm Regen 2024; 44:24. [PMID: 38750507 PMCID: PMC11094934 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-024-00336-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
It is known that maternal immunoglobulins (Igs) are transferred to the offspring across the placenta. However, receiving maternal Igs, especially before the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is formed in the offspring's brain, carries the risk of transferring some brain-reactive Igs. It is thus hypothesized that there may be some unknown benefit to the offspring's brain that overweighs this risk. In this study, we show that the Ig detected in the embryonic/perinatal mouse brain is IgG not produced by the pups themselves, but is basically transferred from the mother across the placenta using the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) during embryonic stages. The amount of IgG in the brain gradually decreases after birth, and almost disappears within 3 weeks postnatally. IgG is detected on axon bundles, microglia, and some meningeal cells, including border-associated macrophages (BAMs), endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Using Fcer1g knock-out (KO) mice, we show that BAMs and microglia receive maternal IgG in an Fc receptor γ chain (FcRγ)-dependent manner, but IgG on other meningeal cells and axon bundles is received independently of the FcRγ. These results suggest that maternal IgG may be used in multiple ways by different mechanisms. In maternal IgG-deficient mice, the number of interneurons in the cerebral cortex is not altered around birth but is reduced postnatally, suggesting that receipt of maternal IgG is necessary for the maintenance of cortical interneurons in the postnatal period. These data suggest that maternal IgG has an important function in the developing brain, where neither obvious inflammation nor infection is observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Morimoto
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
| | - Rikuo Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Goro Takahashi
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Michio Miyajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-Ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Surgent O, Guerrero-Gonzalez J, Dean DC, Adluru N, Kirk GR, Kecskemeti SR, Alexander AL, Li JJ, Travers BG. Microstructural neural correlates of maximal grip strength in autistic children: the role of the cortico-cerebellar network and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder features. Front Integr Neurosci 2024; 18:1359099. [PMID: 38808069 PMCID: PMC11130426 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2024.1359099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Maximal grip strength, a measure of how much force a person's hand can generate when squeezing an object, may be an effective method for understanding potential neurobiological differences during motor tasks. Grip strength in autistic individuals may be of particular interest due to its unique developmental trajectory. While autism-specific differences in grip-brain relationships have been found in adult populations, it is possible that such differences in grip-brain relationships may be present at earlier ages when grip strength is behaviorally similar in autistic and non-autistic groups. Further, such neural differences may lead to the later emergence of diagnostic-group grip differences in adolescence. The present study sought to examine this possibility, while also examining if grip strength could elucidate the neuro-motor sources of phenotypic heterogeneity commonly observed within autism. Methods Using high resolution, multi-shell diffusion, and quantitative R1 relaxometry imaging, this study examined how variations in key sensorimotor-related white matter pathways of the proprioception input, lateral grasping, cortico-cerebellar, and corticospinal networks were associated with individual variations in grip strength in 68 autistic children and 70 non-autistic (neurotypical) children (6-11 years-old). Results In both groups, results indicated that stronger grip strength was associated with higher proprioceptive input, lateral grasping, and corticospinal (but not cortico-cerebellar modification) fractional anisotropy and R1, indirect measures concordant with stronger microstructural coherence and increased myelination. Diagnostic group differences in these grip-brain relationships were not observed, but the autistic group exhibited more variability particularly in the cortico-cerebellar modification indices. An examination into the variability within the autistic group revealed that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) features moderated the relationships between grip strength and both fractional anisotropy and R1 relaxometry in the premotor-primary motor tract of the lateral grasping network and the cortico-cerebellar network tracts. Specifically, in autistic children with elevated ADHD features (60% of the autistic group) stronger grip strength was related to higher fractional anisotropy and R1 of the cerebellar modification network (stronger microstructural coherence and more myelin), whereas the opposite relationship was observed in autistic children with reduced ADHD features. Discussion Together, this work suggests that while the foundational elements of grip strength are similar across school-aged autistic and non-autistic children, neural mechanisms of grip strength within autistic children may additionally depend on the presence of ADHD features. Specifically, stronger, more coherent connections of the cerebellar modification network, which is thought to play a role in refining and optimizing motor commands, may lead to stronger grip in children with more ADHD features, weaker grip in children with fewer ADHD features, and no difference in grip in non-autistic children. While future research is needed to understand if these findings extend to other motor tasks beyond grip strength, these results have implications for understanding the biological basis of neuromotor control in autistic children and emphasize the importance of assessing co-occurring conditions when evaluating brain-behavior relationships in autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Surgent
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Neuroscience Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jose Guerrero-Gonzalez
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Douglas C. Dean
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Nagesh Adluru
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Gregory R. Kirk
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | | | - Andrew L. Alexander
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - James J. Li
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Brittany G. Travers
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
- Occupational Therapy Program in the Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
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37
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You P, Sui J, Jin Z, Huang L, Wei H, Xu Q. Interaction between maternal immune activation and postpartum immune stress in neuropsychiatric phenotypes. Behav Brain Res 2024; 469:115049. [PMID: 38754789 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2024.115049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence has shown that maternal infection is a notable risk factor for developmental psychiatric disorders. Animal models have corroborated this link and demonstrated that maternal immune activation (MIA) induces long-term behavioural deficits and neuroimmunological responses to subsequent immune stress in offspring. However, it is unclear whether MIA offspring are more sensitive or more tolerant to immunological challenges from postnatal infections. Pregnant mice were weighed and injected with a single dose of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) or saline at gestational day 9.5, and their male offspring were exposed to poly I:C or saline again during adolescence, adulthood, and middle life. After a two-week recovery from the last exposure to poly I:C, the mice underwent behavioural and neuroendophenotypic evaluations. Finally, the mice were sacrificed, and the expression levels of inflammatory factors and the activation levels of glial cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were evaluated. We found MIA mice have lifelong behavioural deficits and glial activation abnormalities. Postpartum infection exposure at different ages has different consequences. Adolescent and middle life exposure prevents sensorimotor gating deficiency, but adult exposure leads to increased sensitivity to MK-801. Moreover, MIA imposed a lasting impact on the neuroimmune profile, resulting in an enhanced cytokine-associated response and diminished microglial reactivity to postnatal infection. Our results reveal an intricate interplay between prenatal and postpartum infection in neuropsychiatric phenotypes, which identify potential windows where preventive or mitigating measures could be applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengsheng You
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Jiaping Sui
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Zhongman Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Lian Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Hui Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China.
| | - Qi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China; Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100005, China
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Rey F, Esposito L, Maghraby E, Mauri A, Berardo C, Bonaventura E, Tonduti D, Carelli S, Cereda C. Role of epigenetics and alterations in RNA metabolism in leukodystrophies. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2024; 15:e1854. [PMID: 38831585 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Leukodystrophies are a class of rare heterogeneous disorders which affect the white matter of the brain, ultimately leading to a disruption in brain development and a damaging effect on cognitive, motor and social-communicative development. These disorders present a great clinical heterogeneity, along with a phenotypic overlap and this could be partially due to contributions from environmental stimuli. It is in this context that there is a great need to investigate what other factors may contribute to both disease insurgence and phenotypical heterogeneity, and novel evidence are raising the attention toward the study of epigenetics and transcription mechanisms that can influence the disease phenotype beyond genetics. Modulation in the epigenetics machinery including histone modifications, DNA methylation and non-coding RNAs dysregulation, could be crucial players in the development of these disorders, and moreover an aberrant RNA maturation process has been linked to leukodystrophies. Here, we provide an overview of these mechanisms hoping to supply a closer step toward the analysis of leukodystrophies not only as genetically determined but also with an added level of complexity where epigenetic dysregulation is of key relevance. This article is categorized under: Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNA RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Rey
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi," Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Letizia Esposito
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi," Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Erika Maghraby
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani" (DBB), University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Alessia Mauri
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi," Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Clarissa Berardo
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi," Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Bonaventura
- Unit of Pediatric Neurology, COALA Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukodystrophies, V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Davide Tonduti
- Unit of Pediatric Neurology, COALA Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukodystrophies, V. Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stephana Carelli
- Pediatric Clinical Research Center "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi," Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristina Cereda
- Center of Functional Genomics and Rare Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Buzzi Children's Hospital, Milan, Italy
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Chen RJ, Nabila A, Gal Toth J, Stuhlmann H, Toth M. The chemokine XCL1 functions as a pregnancy hormone to program offspring innate anxiety. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 118:178-189. [PMID: 38428650 PMCID: PMC11044916 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Elevated levels of cytokines in maternal circulation increase the offspring's risk for neuropsychiatric disease. Because of their low homeostatic levels, circulating maternal cytokines during normal pregnancies have not been considered to play a role in fetal brain development and offspring behavior. Here we report that the T/NK cell chemotactic cytokine XCL1, a local paracrine immune signal, can function as a pregnancy hormone and is required for the proper development of placenta and male offspring approach-avoidance behavior. We found that circulating XCL1 levels were at a low pregestational level throughout pregnancy except for a midgestational rise and fall. Blunted elevation in maternal plasma XCL1 in dams with a genetic 5HT1A receptor deficit or following neutralization by anti-XCL1 antibodies increased the expression of tissue damage associated factors in WT fetal placenta and led to increased innate anxiety and stress reactivity in the WT male offspring. Therefore, chemokines like XCL1 may act as pregnancy hormones to regulate placenta development and offspring emotional behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa J Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Anika Nabila
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Judit Gal Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Heidi Stuhlmann
- Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Miklos Toth
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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40
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Husain SF, Cremaschi A, Suaini NHA, De Iorio M, Loo EXL, Shek LP, Goh AEN, Meaney MJ, Tham EH, Law EC. Maternal asthma symptoms during pregnancy on child behaviour and executive function: A Bayesian phenomics approach. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 118:202-209. [PMID: 38412907 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.02.028] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Maternal history of inflammatory conditions has been linked to offspring developmental and behavioural outcomes. This phenomenon may be explained by the maternal immune activation (MIA) hypothesis, which posits that dysregulation of the gestational immune environment affects foetal neurodevelopment. The timing of inflammation is critical. We aimed to understand maternal asthma symptoms during pregnancy, in contrast with paternal asthma symptoms during the same period, on child behaviour problems and executive function in a population-based cohort. METHODS Data were obtained from 844 families from the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort. Parent asthma symptoms during the prenatal period were reported. Asthma symptoms in children were reported longitudinally from two to five years old, while behavioural problems and executive functioning were obtained at seven years old. Parent and child measures were compared between mothers with and without prenatal asthma symptoms. Generalized linear and Bayesian phenomics models were used to determine the relation between parent or child asthma symptoms and child outcomes. RESULTS Children of mothers with prenatal asthma symptoms had greater behavioural and executive problems than controls (Cohen's d: 0.43-0.75; all p < 0.05). This association remained after adjustments for emerging asthma symptoms during the preschool years and fathers' asthma symptoms during the prenatal period. After adjusting for dependence between child outcomes, the Bayesian phenomics model showed that maternal prenatal asthma symptoms were associated with child internalising symptoms and higher-order executive function, while child asthma symptoms were associated with executive function skills. Paternal asthma symptoms during the prenatal period were not associated with child outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Associations between child outcomes and maternal but not paternal asthma symptoms during the prenatal period suggests a role for MIA. These findings need to be validated in larger samples, and further research may identify behavioural and cognitive profiles of children with exposure to MIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syeda Fabeha Husain
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Cremaschi
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Noor Hidayatul Aini Suaini
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore
| | - Maria De Iorio
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Department of Statistics and Data Science, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Evelyn X L Loo
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Human Potential Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lynette P Shek
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Anne E N Goh
- Paediatric Allergy Service and Respiratory Medicine Service, Department of Paediatrics, KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), Singapore
| | - Michael J Meaney
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Sackler Program for Epigenetics & Psychobiology, Douglas Hospital Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Elizabeth H Tham
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore
| | - Evelyn C Law
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences (SICS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore; Khoo Teck Puat - National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Hospital, Singapore.
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Wang Y, Xu Y, Zhou C, Cheng Y, Qiao N, Shang Q, Xia L, Song J, Gao C, Qiao Y, Zhang X, Li M, Ma C, Fan Y, Peng X, Wu S, Lv N, Li B, Sun Y, Zhang B, Li T, Li H, Zhang J, Su Y, Li Q, Yuan J, Liu L, Moreno-De-Luca A, MacLennan AH, Gecz J, Zhu D, Wang X, Zhu C, Xing Q. Exome sequencing reveals genetic heterogeneity and clinically actionable findings in children with cerebral palsy. Nat Med 2024; 30:1395-1405. [PMID: 38693247 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02912-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common motor disability in children. To ascertain the role of major genetic variants in the etiology of CP, we conducted exome sequencing on a large-scale cohort with clinical manifestations of CP. The study cohort comprised 505 girls and 1,073 boys. Utilizing the current gold standard in genetic diagnostics, 387 of these 1,578 children (24.5%) received genetic diagnoses. We identified 412 pathogenic and likely pathogenic (P/LP) variants across 219 genes associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, and 59 P/LP copy number variants. The genetic diagnostic rate of children with CP labeled at birth with perinatal asphyxia was higher than the rate in children without asphyxia (P = 0.0033). Also, 33 children with CP manifestations (8.5%, 33 of 387) had findings that were clinically actionable. These results highlight the need for early genetic testing in children with CP, especially those with risk factors like perinatal asphyxia, to enable evidence-based medical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangong Wang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chongchen Zhou
- Rehabilitation Department, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ye Cheng
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Women and Children's Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Niu Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, National Research Center for Translational Medicine (Shanghai), and School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qing Shang
- Rehabilitation Department, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lei Xia
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Juan Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chao Gao
- Rehabilitation Department, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yimeng Qiao
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ming Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Caiyun Ma
- Rehabilitation Department, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yangyi Fan
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xirui Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Silin Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nan Lv
- Rehabilitation Department, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Genetics and Metabolism, Children's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingbing Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanyan Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bohao Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tongchuan Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Center for Women and Children's Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Su
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiaoli Li
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junying Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lei Liu
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Andres Moreno-De-Luca
- Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alastair H MacLennan
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jozef Gecz
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Dengna Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyang Wang
- Centre for Perinatal Medicine and Health, Institute of Clinical Science, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Changlian Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, Henan Key Laboratory of Child Brain Injury and Henan Pediatric Clinical Research Center, The Third Affiliated Hospital and Institute of Neuroscience of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Qinghe Xing
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Center for Women and Children's Health, Shanghai, China.
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Chi YQ, Yao Y, Zhang WH, Zhang ZH, Wang YH, Hao W. Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation for Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: A Double-Blind, Randomized Clinical Trial. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2024:99228241250139. [PMID: 38680033 DOI: 10.1177/00099228241250139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential component for brain development during fetal and early postnatal life. Hyperbilirubinemia is characterized by abnormally high levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream, frequently leading to jaundice in newborns. In severe instances, this condition can progress to neurological damage or kernicterus, a form of brain damage. Initial cell-based experiments conducted by our research team revealed that DHA significantly enhances the survival rate of nerve cells treated with bilirubin and diminishes the oxidative stress indicated by reduced peroxide activity caused by unconjugated bilirubin (UCB). Further investigations through animal studies demonstrated that DHA effectively mitigates bilirubin-induced brain injury in neonatal rats. However, the potential of DHA to decrease the incidence of bilirubin-induced brain damage in clinical settings has not been previously explored or reported. Infants with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (n = 30 per group) participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel study. They received either 100 mg/d DHA or placebo syrup immediately when they were diagnosed. The study found that the bilirubin level at 48 hours of treatment, serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels, mean phototherapy duration, and abnormal rate of cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were lower in the DHA group than those in the control group (P < .05). These results suggested that DHA is effective as an adjuvant treatment for hyperbilirubinemia in children. It can reduce the incidence of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia brain injury and plays a certain protective role. Clinical study on protective effect of DHA on neonatal bilirubin injury is registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry as ChiCTR2300070250.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Qian Chi
- Pediatric Department, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yi Yao
- Basic Medical College of GuangXi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Wen-Hong Zhang
- Pediatric Department, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zi-Han Zhang
- Pediatric Department, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yun-He Wang
- Pediatric Department, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Wei Hao
- Pediatric Department, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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43
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Campisciano G, Sorz A, Cason C, Zanotta N, Gionechetti F, Piazza M, Carli P, Uliana FM, Ballaminut L, Ricci G, De Seta F, Maso G, Comar M. Genital Dysbiosis and Different Systemic Immune Responses Based on the Trimester of Pregnancy in SARS-CoV-2 Infection. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4298. [PMID: 38673883 PMCID: PMC11050260 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084298] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infections are common in pregnancy with conflicting evidence supporting their association with neonatal congenital anomalies, especially during the first trimester. We profiled cytokine and chemokine systemic responses in 242 pregnant women and their newborns after SARS-CoV-2 infection, acquired in different trimesters. Also, we tested transplacental IgG passage and maternal vaginal-rectal microbiomes. IgG transplacental passage was evident, especially with infection acquired in the first trimester. G-CSF concentration-involved in immune cell recruitment-decreased in infected women compared to uninfected ones: a beneficial event for the reduction of inflammation but detrimental to ability to fight infections at birth. The later the infection was acquired, the higher the systemic concentration of IL-8, IP-10, and MCP-1, associated with COVID-19 disease severity. All infected women showed dysbiosis of vaginal and rectal microbiomes, compared to uninfected ones. Two newborns tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 within the first 48 h of life. Notably, their mothers had acute infection at delivery. Although respiratory infections in pregnancy are reported to affect babies' health, with SARS-CoV-2 acquired early during gestation this risk seems low because of the maternal immune response. The observed vaginal and rectal dysbiosis could be relevant for neonatal microbiome establishment, although in our series immediate neonatal outcomes were reassuring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Campisciano
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Alice Sorz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health–IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.); (M.P.); (G.R.); (F.D.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Carolina Cason
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Nunzia Zanotta
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Fabrizia Gionechetti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
| | - Maria Piazza
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health–IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.); (M.P.); (G.R.); (F.D.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Petra Carli
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Francesca Maria Uliana
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Lisa Ballaminut
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
| | - Giuseppe Ricci
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health–IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.); (M.P.); (G.R.); (F.D.S.); (G.M.)
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco De Seta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health–IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.); (M.P.); (G.R.); (F.D.S.); (G.M.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Via Olgettina 60, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Gianpaolo Maso
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health–IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (A.S.); (M.P.); (G.R.); (F.D.S.); (G.M.)
| | - Manola Comar
- Department of Advanced Translational Microbiology, Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Via dell’Istria 65, 34137 Trieste, Italy; (C.C.); (N.Z.); (P.C.); (F.M.U.); (L.B.); (M.C.)
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Strada di Fiume 447, 34149 Trieste, Italy
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Scher MS, Agarwal S, Venkatesen C. Clinical decisions in fetal-neonatal neurology I. reproductive and pregnancy health influence the neural exposome over multiple generations. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2024:101521. [PMID: 38658296 DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2024.101521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Interdisciplinary fetal neonatal neurology (FNN) training requires integration of reproductive health factors into evaluations of the maternal-placental-fetal (MPF) triad, neonate, and child over the first 1000 days. Serial events that occur before one or multiple pregnancies impact successive generations. A maternal-child dyad history highlights this continuity of health risk, beginning with a maternal grandmother's pregnancy. Her daughter was born preterm and later experienced polycystic ovarian syndrome further complicated by cognitive and mental health disorders. Medical problems during her pregnancy contributed to MPF triad diseases that resulted in her son's extreme prematurity. Postpartum maternal death from the complications of diabetic ketoacidosis and her child's severe global neurodevelopmental delay were adverse mother-child outcomes. A horizontal/vertical diagnostic approach to reach shared clinical decisions during FNN training requires perspectives of a dynamic neural exposome. Career-long learning is then strengthened by continued interactions from al stakeholders. Developmental origins theory applied to neuroplasticity principles help interpret phenotypic expressions as dynamic gene-environment interactions across a person's lifetime. Debiasing strategies applied to the cognitive process reduce bias to preserve therapeutic and prognostic accuracy. Social determinants of health are essential components of this strategy to be initiated during FNN training. Reduction of the global burden of neurologic disorders requires applying the positive effects from reproductive and pregnancy exposomes that will benefit the neural exposome across the lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Scher
- Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, USA.
| | - Sonika Agarwal
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, USA.
| | - Charu Venkatesen
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati School of Medicine, USA.
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Fortin O, DeBiasi RL, Mulkey SB. Congenital infectious encephalopathies from the intrapartum period to postnatal life. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2024:101526. [PMID: 38677956 DOI: 10.1016/j.siny.2024.101526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Congenital infections are a common but often underrecognized cause of fetal brain abnormalities, as well as fetal-neonatal morbidity and mortality, that should be considered by all healthcare professionals providing neurological care to fetuses and newborns. Maternal infection with various pathogens (cytomegalovirus, Toxoplasmosis, Rubella virus, Parvovirus B19, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, syphilis, Zika virus, varicella zoster virus) during pregnancy can be transmitted to the developing fetus, which can cause multisystem dysfunction and destructive or malformative central nervous system lesions. These can be recognized on fetal and neonatal imaging, including ultrasound and MRI. Imaging and clinical features often overlap, but some distinguishing features can help identify specific pathogens and guide subsequent testing strategies. Some pathogens can be specifically treated, and others can be managed with targeted interventions or symptomatic therapy based on expected complications. Neurological and neurodevelopmental complications related to congenital infections vary widely and are likely driven by a combination of pathophysiologic factors, alone or in combination. These include direct invasion of the fetal central nervous system by pathogens, inflammation of the maternal-placental-fetal triad in response to infection, and long-term effects of immunogenic and epigenetic changes in the fetus in response to maternal-fetal infection. Congenital infections and their neurodevelopmental impacts should be seen as an issue of public health policy, given that infection and the associated complications disproportionately affect woman and children from low- and middle-income countries and those with lower socio-economic status in high-income countries. Congenital infections may be preventable and treatable, which can improve long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Fortin
- Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Roberta L DeBiasi
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA; Department of Tropical Medicine, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
| | - Sarah B Mulkey
- Zickler Family Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA; Department of Pediatrics, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA; Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA.
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Asaka MK, Nishimura T, Kuwabara H, Itoh H, Takahashi N, Tsuchiya KJ. Interleukin-23 levels in umbilical cord blood are associated with neurodevelopmental trajectories in infancy. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301982. [PMID: 38593153 PMCID: PMC11003674 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Our previous study, which aimed to understand the early neurodevelopmental trajectories of children with and without neurodevelopmental disorders, identified five classes of early neurodevelopmental trajectories, categorized as high normal, normal, low normal, delayed, and markedly delayed. This investigation involved measurement using the Mullen Scale of Early Learning in a representative sample of Japanese infants followed up from the age of 0 to 2 years (Nishimura et al., 2016). In the present study, we investigated the potential association between cytokine concentrations in umbilical cord serum with any of the five classes of neurodevelopmental trajectories previously assigned, as follows: high normal (N = 85, 13.0%), normal (N = 322, 49.1%), low normal (N = 137, 20.9%), delayed (N = 87, 13.3%), and markedly delayed (N = 25, 3.8%) in infancy. Decreased interleukin (IL)-23 levels in the cord blood were associated with the markedly delayed class, independent of potential confounders (odds ratio, 0.44; 95%confidence interval: 0.26-0.73). Furthermore, IL-23 levels decreased as the developmental trajectory became more delayed, demonstrating that IL-23 plays an important role in development, and is useful for predicting the developmental trajectory at birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Machiko K. Asaka
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Japan
| | - Tomoko Nishimura
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Japan
- Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Kuwabara
- Department of Psychiatry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Saitama Medical University, Moroyama-chou, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Itoh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Nagahide Takahashi
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Japan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Kenji J. Tsuchiya
- United Graduate School of Child Development, Osaka University, Kanazawa University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Chiba University and University of Fukui, Suita, Japan
- Research Centre for Child Mental Development, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
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47
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Lee AC, Cherkerzian S, Tofail F, Folger LV, Ahmed S, Rahman S, Chowdhury NH, Khanam R, Olson I, Oken E, Fichorova R, Nelson CA, Baqui AH, Inder T. Perinatal inflammation, fetal growth restriction, and long-term neurodevelopmental impairment in Bangladesh. Pediatr Res 2024:10.1038/s41390-024-03101-x. [PMID: 38589559 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-024-03101-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are limited data on the impact of perinatal inflammation on child neurodevelopment in low-middle income countries and among growth-restricted infants. METHODS Population-based, prospective birth cohort study of 288 infants from July 2016-March 2017 in Sylhet, Bangladesh. Umbilical cord blood was analyzed for interleukin(IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and C-reactive protein(CRP). Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 24 months with Bayley-III Scales of Infant Development. We determined associations between cord blood inflammation and neurodevelopmental outcomes, controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS 248/288 (86%) live born infants were followed until 24 months, among whom 8.9% were preterm and 45.0% small-for-gestational-age(SGA) at birth. Among all infants, elevated concentrations (>75%) of CRP and IL-6 at birth were associated with increased odds of fine motor delay at 24 months; elevated CRP was also associated with lower receptive communication z-scores. Among SGA infants, elevated IL-1α was associated with cognitive delay, IL-8 with language delay, CRP with lower receptive communication z-scores, and IL-1β with lower expressive communication and motor z-scores. CONCLUSIONS In rural Bangladesh, perinatal inflammation was associated with impaired neurodevelopment at 24 months. The associations were strongest among SGA infants and noted across several biomarkers and domains, supporting the neurobiological role of inflammation in adverse fetal development, particularly in the setting of fetal growth restriction. IMPACT Cord blood inflammation was associated with fine motor and language delays at 24 months of age in a community-based cohort in rural Bangladesh. 23.4 million infants are born small-for-gestational-age (SGA) globally each year. Among SGA infants, the associations between cord blood inflammation and adverse outcomes were strong and consistent across several biomarkers and neurodevelopmental domains (cognitive, motor, language), supporting the neurobiological impact of inflammation prominent in growth-restricted infants. Prenatal interventions to prevent intrauterine growth restriction are needed in low- and middle-income countries and may also result in long-term benefits on child development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Cc Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Sara Cherkerzian
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Fahmida Tofail
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Lian V Folger
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | | | - Sayedur Rahman
- Projahnmo Research Foundation, Banani, Dhaka, 1213, Bangladesh
| | | | - Rasheda Khanam
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ingrid Olson
- Department of Pediatrics, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Emily Oken
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Raina Fichorova
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Charles A Nelson
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Graduate School of Education, Boston, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Abdullah H Baqui
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Terrie Inder
- Center for Neonatal Research, Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, 92868, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
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48
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Weber KT, Varian BJ, Erdman SE. The gut microbiome and sociability. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1372274. [PMID: 38629051 PMCID: PMC11018908 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1372274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The human gut microbiome plays an important role in the maturation of the neural, immune, and endocrine systems. Research data from animal models shows that gut microbiota communicate with the host's brain in an elaborate network of signaling pathways, including the vagus nerve. Part of the microbiome's influence extends to the behavioral and social development of its host. As a social species, a human's ability to communicate with others is imperative to their survival and quality of life. Current research explores the gut microbiota's developmental influence as well as how these gut-brain pathways can be leveraged to alleviate the social symptoms associated with various neurodevelopmental and psychiatric diseases. One intriguing vein of research in animal models centers on probiotic treatment, which leads to downstream increased circulation of endogenous oxytocin, a neuropeptide hormone relevant to sociability. Further research may lead to therapeutic applications in humans, particularly in the early stages of their lives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Susan E. Erdman
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United States
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49
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Jenkins HM, Meeker JD, Zimmerman E, Cathey A, Fernandez J, Montañez GH, Park S, Pabón ZR, Vélez Vega CM, Cordero JF, Alshawabkeh A, Watkins DJ. Gestational glyphosate exposure and early childhood neurodevelopment in a Puerto Rico birth cohort. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 246:118114. [PMID: 38211716 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, or glyphosate, is a non-selective systemic herbicide widely used in agricultural, industrial, and residential settings since 1974. Glyphosate exposure has been inconsistently linked to neurotoxicity in animals, and studies of effects of gestational exposure among humans are scarce. In this study we investigated relationships between prenatal urinary glyphosate analytes and early childhood neurodevelopment. METHODS Mother-child pairs from the PROTECT-CRECE birth cohort in Puerto Rico with measures for both maternal urinary glyphosate analytes and child neurodevelopment were included for analysis (n = 143). Spot urine samples were collected 1-3 times throughout pregnancy and analyzed for glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), an environmental degradant of glyphosate. Child neurodevelopment was assessed at 6, 12, and 24 months using the Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd edition Spanish (BDI-2), which provides scores for adaptive, personal-social, communication, motor, and cognitive domains. We used multivariable linear regression to examine associations between the geometric mean of maternal urinary glyphosate analytes across pregnancy and BDI-2 scores at each follow-up. Results were expressed as percent change in BDI-2 score per interquartile range increase in exposure. RESULTS Prenatal AMPA concentrations were negatively associated with communication domain at 12 months (%change = -5.32; 95%CI: 9.04, -1.61; p = 0.007), and communication subdomain scores at 12 and 24 months. At 24 months, four BDI-2 domains were associated with AMPA: adaptive (%change = -3.15; 95%CI: 6.05, -0.25; p = 0.038), personal-social (%change = -4.37; 95%CI: 7.48, -1.26; p = 0.008), communication (%change = -7.00; 95%CI: 11.75, -2.26; p = 0.005), and cognitive (%change = -4.02; 95%CI: 6.72, -1.32; p = 0.005). Similar trends were observed with GLY concentrations, but most confidence intervals include zero. We found no significant associations at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that gestational exposure to glyphosate is associated with adverse early neurodevelopment, with more pronounced delays at 24 months. Given glyphosate's wide usage, further investigation into the impact of gestational glyphosate exposure on neurodevelopment is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley M Jenkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - John D Meeker
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Emily Zimmerman
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Amber Cathey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Jennifer Fernandez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Gredia Huerta Montañez
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Seonyoung Park
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Zaira Rosario Pabón
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Carmen M Vélez Vega
- Department of Social Sciences, UPR Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico Graduate School of Public Health, San Juan, PR, 00936, USA.
| | - José F Cordero
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Akram Alshawabkeh
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Deborah J Watkins
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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50
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Geng M, Ding P, Wang S, Wang B, Tong J, Gao H, Yan S, Liu K, Wu X, Zhu P, Cao Y, Huang K, Tao F. Prenatal antibiotics exposure and preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing problems: A biomonitoring-based prospective birth cohort study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 919:170891. [PMID: 38346651 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biomonitoring-based epidemiological studies on prenatal antibiotic exposure and behavioral problems in preschoolers are lacking. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between prenatal antibiotic exposure and internalizing and externalizing problems in preschoolers. METHODS Data from 2449 mother-child pairs were analyzed. Urine samples were repeatedly collected across three trimesters, and 43 antibiotics and 2 metabolites were measured, including preferred as veterinary antibiotics (PVAs), VAs, preferred as human antibiotics and human antibiotics. Preschoolers' internalizing and externalizing problems were evaluated by the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for preschoolers' internalizing, externalizing and total problems across tertiles of antibiotic concentrations during three periods of pregnancy, and performed several subgroup analyses. RESULTS First-trimester urinary oxytetracycline (RR = 1.69, 95%CI: 1.20, 2.39, P-FDR = 0.011), tetracycline (RR = 1.91, 95%CI: 1.36, 2.68, P-FDR < 0.001), doxycycline (RR = 1.66, 95%CI: 1.28, 2.17, P-FDR < 0.001) and PVAs (RR = 1.79, 95%CI: 1.29, 2.48, P-FDR < 0.001) concentrations in the highest tertile were related to an elevated risk of internalizing problems compared with concentrations in the lowest tertile. First-trimester urinary doxycycline concentrations in the third tertile were also associated with an increased risk of externalizing problems compared with the first tertile (RR = 2.00, 95%CI: 1.28, 3.15, P-FDR = 0.042). Compared with concentrations in the lowest tertile, first-trimester urinary doxycycline (RR = 1.63, 95%CI: 1.19, 2.22, P-FDR = 0.028) and PVAs (RR = 1.67, 95%CI: 1.14, 2.43, P-FDR = 0.047) concentrations in the middle tertile were related to an increased risk of total problems. Furthermore, the type of main caregiver and children's outdoor activities time modified the relationships between specific prenatal antibiotic exposure and preschoolers' behavioral problems. CONCLUSIONS Exposure to specific antibiotics during the first trimester may be related to an increased risk of internalizing and externalizing problems in preschoolers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menglong Geng
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Ding
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Sheng Wang
- The Center for Scientific Research of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Baolin Wang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Juan Tong
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Department of Pediatric, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No. 218 Jixi Road, Hefei 230022, Anhui, China
| | - Shuangqin Yan
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Ma'anshan Maternal and Child Healthcare (MCH) Center, Ma'anshan 243011, China
| | - Kaiyong Liu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kun Huang
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Scientific Research Center in Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Fangbiao Tao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China; Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health across the Life Course, Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei 230032, Anhui, China.
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