1
|
Osman H, Ashwood P. Evidence supporting the relationship between maternal asthma and risk for autism spectrum disorders. Neural Regen Res 2025; 20:1101-1102. [PMID: 38989950 DOI: 10.4103/nrr.nrr-d-24-00252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Hadley Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Osman HC, Moreno R, Rose D, Rowland ME, Ciernia AV, Ashwood P. Impact of maternal immune activation and sex on placental and fetal brain cytokine and gene expression profiles in a preclinical model of neurodevelopmental disorders. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:118. [PMID: 38715090 PMCID: PMC11077729 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03106-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternal inflammation during gestation is associated with a later diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the specific impact of maternal immune activation (MIA) on placental and fetal brain development remains insufficiently understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MIA by analyzing placental and brain tissues obtained from the offspring of pregnant C57BL/6 dams exposed to polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid (poly I: C) on embryonic day 12.5. Cytokine and mRNA content in the placenta and brain tissues were assessed using multiplex cytokine assays and bulk-RNA sequencing on embryonic day 17.5. In the placenta, male MIA offspring exhibited higher levels of GM-CSF, IL-6, TNFα, and LT-α, but there were no differences in female MIA offspring. Furthermore, differentially expressed genes (DEG) in the placental tissues of MIA offspring were found to be enriched in processes related to synaptic vesicles and neuronal development. Placental mRNA from male and female MIA offspring were both enriched in synaptic and neuronal development terms, whereas females were also enriched for terms related to excitatory and inhibitory signaling. In the fetal brain of MIA offspring, increased levels of IL-28B and IL-25 were observed with male MIA offspring and increased levels of LT-α were observed in the female offspring. Notably, we identified few stable MIA fetal brain DEG, with no male specific difference whereas females had DEG related to immune cytokine signaling. Overall, these findings support the hypothesis that MIA contributes to the sex- specific abnormalities observed in ASD, possibly through altered neuron developed from exposure to inflammatory cytokines. Future research should aim to investigate how interactions between the placenta and fetal brain contribute to altered neuronal development in the context of MIA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hadley C Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Rachel Moreno
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Destanie Rose
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Megan E Rowland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA.
- The M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Sacramento, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Khashan AS, O’Keeffe GW. The Impact of Maternal Inflammatory Conditions During Pregnancy on the Risk of Autism: Methodological Challenges. BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY GLOBAL OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 4:100287. [PMID: 38501118 PMCID: PMC10945434 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpsgos.2023.100287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ali S. Khashan
- INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Gerard W. O’Keeffe
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tamayo JM, Osman HC, Schwartzer JJ, Ashwood P. The influence of asthma on neuroinflammation and neurodevelopment: From epidemiology to basic models. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 116:218-228. [PMID: 38070621 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2023.12.003] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthma is a highly heterogeneous inflammatory disease that can have a significant effect on both the respiratory system and central nervous system. Population based studies and animal models have found asthma to be comorbid with a number of neurological conditions, including depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, maternal asthma during pregnancy has been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders in the offspring, such as autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this article, we review the most current epidemiological studies of asthma that identify links to neurological conditions, both as it relates to individuals that suffer from asthma and the impacts asthma during pregnancy may have on offspring neurodevelopment. We also discuss the relevant animal models investigating these links, address the gaps in knowledge, and explore the potential future directions in this field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Tamayo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Hadley C Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Jared J Schwartzer
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA 01075, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, CA 95817, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shim S, Ha S, Choi J, Kwon HK, Cheon KA. Alterations in Plasma Cytokine Levels in Korean Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yonsei Med J 2024; 65:70-77. [PMID: 38288647 PMCID: PMC10827638 DOI: 10.3349/ymj.2023.0362] [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: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Numerous studies have supported the role of the immune dysfunction in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD); however, to our knowledge, no study has been conducted on plasma cytokine levels in children with ASD in South Korea. In this study, we aimed to analyze the immunological characteristics of Korean children with ASD through plasma cytokine analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Blood samples were collected from 94 ASD children (mean age 7.1; 81 males and 13 females) and 48 typically developing children (TDC) (mean age 7.3; 30 males and 18 females). Plasma was isolated from 1 mL of blood by clarifying with centrifugation at 8000 rpm at 4℃ for 10 min. Cytokines in plasma were measured with LEGENDplex HU Th cytokine panel (BioLegend, 741028) and LEGENDplex HU cytokine panel 2 (BioLegend, 740102). RESULTS Among 25 cytokines, innate immune cytokine [interleukin (IL)-33] was significantly decreased in ASD children compared with TDC. In acute phase proteins, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) was significantly increased, while IL-6, another inflammation marker, was decreased in ASD children compared with TDC. The cytokines from T cell subsets, including interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-5, IL-13, and IL-17f, were significantly decreased in ASD children compared to TDC. IL-10, a major anti-inflammatory cytokine, and IL-9, which modulates immune cell growth and proliferation, were also significantly decreased in ASD children compared to TDC. CONCLUSION We confirmed that Korean children with ASD showed altered immune function and unique cytokine expression patterns distinct from TDC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Songjoo Shim
- Department of Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sungji Ha
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Juli Choi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Ho-Keun Kwon
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute for Immunology and Immunological Diseases, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Sciences, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Keun-Ah Cheon
- Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Behavioral Science in Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Robinson JL, Gatford KL, Bailey DN, Roff AJ, Clifton VL, Morrison JL, Stark MJ. Preclinical models of maternal asthma and progeny outcomes: a scoping review. Eur Respir Rev 2024; 33:230174. [PMID: 38417970 PMCID: PMC10900068 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0174-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
There is an increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in the ∼17% of women with asthma during pregnancy. The mechanisms linking maternal asthma and adverse outcomes are largely unknown, but reflect joint effects of genetics and prenatal exposure to maternal asthma. Animal models are essential to understand the underlying mechanisms independent of genetics and comorbidities, and enable safe testing of interventions. This scoping review aimed to explore the methodology, phenotype, characteristics, outcomes and quality of published studies using preclinical maternal asthma models. MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier) and Web of Science were systematically searched using previously validated search strings for maternal asthma and for animal models. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, full texts, and then extracted and assessed the quality of each study using the Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE) 2.0 guidelines. Out of 3618 studies identified, 39 were eligible for extraction. Most studies were in rodents (86%) and all were models of allergic asthma. Maternal and progeny outcomes included airway hyperresponsiveness, airway resistance, inflammation, lung immune cells, lung structure and serum immunoglobulins and cytokines. Experimental design (100%), procedural details (97%) and rationale (100%) were most often reported. Conversely, data exclusion (21%), blinding (18%) and adverse events (8%) were reported in a minority of studies. Species differences in physiology and timing of development, the use of allergens not relevant to humans and a lack of comparable outcome measures may impede clinical translation. Future studies exploring models of maternal asthma should adhere to the minimum core outcomes set presented in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L Robinson
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Kathryn L Gatford
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Danielle N Bailey
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Andrea J Roff
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Vicki L Clifton
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Janna L Morrison
- Early Origins of Adult Health Research Group, Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Michael J Stark
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
- Department of Neonatal Medicine, Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Luo Y, Wang Z. The Impact of Microglia on Neurodevelopment and Brain Function in Autism. Biomedicines 2024; 12:210. [PMID: 38255315 PMCID: PMC10813633 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, as one of the main types of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS), are widely distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord. The normal number and function of microglia are very important for maintaining homeostasis in the CNS. In recent years, scientists have paid widespread attention to the role of microglia in the CNS. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a highly heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder, and patients with ASD have severe deficits in behavior, social skills, and communication. Most previous studies on ASD have focused on neuronal pathological changes, such as increased cell proliferation, accelerated neuronal differentiation, impaired synaptic development, and reduced neuronal spontaneous and synchronous activity. Currently, more and more research has found that microglia, as immune cells, can promote neurogenesis and synaptic pruning to maintain CNS homeostasis. They can usually reduce unnecessary synaptic connections early in life. Some researchers have proposed that many pathological phenotypes of ASD may be caused by microglial abnormalities. Based on this, we summarize recent research on microglia in ASD, focusing on the function of microglia and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. We aim to clarify the essential factors influenced by microglia in ASD and explore the possibility of microglia-related pathways as potential research targets for ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyi Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China;
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhengbo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Institute of Primate Translational Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China;
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Primate Biomedical Research, Kunming 650500, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gao Z, Lv H, Wang Y, Xie Y, Guan M, Xu Y. TET2 deficiency promotes anxiety and depression-like behaviors by activating NLRP3/IL-1β pathway in microglia of allergic rhinitis mice. Mol Med 2023; 29:160. [PMID: 38012545 PMCID: PMC10680276 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00757-9] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anxiety and depression-like behaviors in allergic rhinitis (AR) are attracting attention, while the precise mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. Recent evidence shows that neuroinflammation in anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) may be the core of these neuropsychiatric symptoms in AR. Here, we investigated the molecular link between the anxiety and depression-like behaviors and neuroinflammation in ACC. METHODS Mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to induce AR. Nasal inflammation levels were assessed by H&E staining and PAS staining. Anxiety and depression-like behaviors were evaluated by behavioral experiments including open field test, forced swimming test, and sucrose preference test. Neuronal impairment was characterized via Nissl staining and 18FDG-PET. The role of ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) in AR-related anxiety and depression was assessed by Tet2-/- mice. In addition, the murine BV2 microglial cell line was utilized to explore the molecular mechanisms by which TET2 mediates neuroinflammation. The levels of TET2, NLRP3 and their downstream molecules were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, Dot blot and ELISA. The effects of metformin on depression-like behaviors in AR mice were also evaluated. RESULTS AR mice showed significant anxiety and depression-like behaviors, which associated with the activation of ACC. Loss of TET2 activated the NLRP3/IL-1β pathway of microglia in AR mice, further accelerating the anxiety and depression-like behaviors. In addition, knockdown of TET2 activated the NLRP3/IL-1β pathway in BV2 cells. Metformin improved the neuropsychiatric symptoms of AR mice by reducing the activation of NLRP3/IL-1β pathway after upregulating TET2. CONCLUSION TET2 deficiency activates the NLRP3/IL-1β pathway of microglia in the ACC, promoting the pathological process of anxiety and depression-like behavior in AR. Metformin could be effective in treating neuroinflammation by regulating microglia via TET2 up-regulation, indicating that metformin is a potential way to treat anxiety and depression-like behaviors in AR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ziang Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow Hospital, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Hao Lv
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yunfei Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yulie Xie
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengting Guan
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
- Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
- Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Tamayo JM, Osman HC, Schwartzer JJ, Pinkerton KE, Ashwood P. Characterizing the neuroimmune environment of offspring in a novel model of maternal allergic asthma and particulate matter exposure. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:252. [PMID: 37919762 PMCID: PMC10621097 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02930-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD). Increased gestational inflammation can be a result of an immune condition/disease, exposure to infection, and/or environmental factors. Epidemiology studies suggest that cases of NDD are on the rise. Similarly, rates of asthma are increasing, and the presence of maternal asthma during pregnancy increases the likelihood of a child being later diagnosed with NDD such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Particulate matter (PM), via air pollution, is an environmental factor known to worsen the symptoms of asthma, but also, PM has been associated with increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders. Despite the links between asthma and PM with neuropsychiatric disorders, there is a lack of laboratory models investigating combined prenatal exposure to asthma and PM on offspring neurodevelopment. Thus, we developed a novel mouse model that combines exposure to maternal allergic asthma (MAA) and ultrafine iron-soot (UIS), a common component of PM. In the current study, female BALB/c mice were sensitized for allergic asthma with ovalbumin (OVA) prior to pregnancy. Following mating and beginning on gestational day 2 (GD2), dams were exposed to either aerosolized OVA to induce allergic asthma or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 1 h. Following the 1-h exposure, pregnant females were then exposed to UIS with a size distribution of 55 to 169 nm at an average concentration of 176 ± 45 μg/m3) (SD), or clean air for 4 h, over 8 exposure sessions. Offspring brains were collected at postnatal days (P)15 and (P)35. Cortices and hippocampal regions were then isolated and assessed for changes in cytokines using a Luminex bead-based multiplex assay. Analyses identified changes in many cytokines across treatment groups at both timepoints in the cortex, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and IL-17, which remained elevated from P15 to P35 in all treatment conditions compared to controls. There was a suppressive effect of the combined MAA plus UIS on the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Potentially shifting the cytokine balance towards more neuroinflammation. In the hippocampus at P15, elevations in cytokines were also identified across the treatment groups, namely IL-7. The combination of MAA and UIS exposure (MAA-UIS) during pregnancy resulted in an increase in microglia density in the hippocampus of offspring, as identified by IBA-1 staining. Together, these data indicate that exposure to MAA, UIS, and MAA-UIS result in changes in the neuroimmune environment of offspring that persist into adulthood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juan M Tamayo
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2805, 50th Street Sacramento, Davis, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Hadley C Osman
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2805, 50th Street Sacramento, Davis, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Jared J Schwartzer
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, Department of Psychology and Education, Mount Holyoke College, 50 College Street, South Hadley, MA, 01075, USA
| | - Kent E Pinkerton
- Center for Health and the Environment, University of California at Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Paul Ashwood
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and the M.I.N.D. Institute, University of California at Davis, 2805, 50th Street Sacramento, Davis, CA, 95817, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liu X, Liu H, Gu N, Pei J, Lin X, Zhao W. Preeclampsia promotes autism in offspring via maternal inflammation and fetal NFκB signaling. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202301957. [PMID: 37290815 PMCID: PMC10250690 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202301957] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. However, the exact mechanisms underlying the impact of PE on progeny ASD are not fully understood, which hinders the development of effective therapeutic approaches. This study shows the offspring born to a PE mouse model treated by Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) exhibit ASD-like phenotypes, including neurodevelopment deficiency and behavioral abnormalities. Transcriptomic analysis of the embryonic cortex and adult offspring hippocampus suggested the expression of ASD-related genes was dramatically changed. Furthermore, the level of inflammatory cytokines TNFα in maternal serum and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling in the fetal cortex were elevated. Importantly, TNFα neutralization during pregnancy enabled to ameliorate ASD-like phenotypes and restore the NFκB activation level in the offspring exposed to PE. Furthermore, TNFα/NFκB signaling axis, but not L-NAME, caused deficits in neuroprogenitor cell proliferation and synaptic development. These experiments demonstrate that offspring exposed to PE phenocopies ASD signatures reported in humans and indicate therapeutic targeting of TNFα decreases the likelihood of bearing children with ASD phenotypes from PE mothers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xueyuan Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nihao Gu
- International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Embryo-Feta Original Adult Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiangnan Pei
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianhua Lin
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenlong Zhao
- Environmental and Occupational Health Science Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- International Peace Maternity & Child Health Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory for Embryo-Feta Original Adult Disease, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Tamayo JM, Osman HC, Schwartzer JJ, Pinkerton K, Ashwood P. Characterizing the Neuroimmune Environment of Offspring in a Novel Model of Maternal Allergic Asthma and Particulate Matter Exposure. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3140415. [PMID: 37503062 PMCID: PMC10371118 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3140415/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by the presence of decreased social interactions and an increase in stereotyped and repetitive behaviors. Epidemiology studies suggest that cases of ASD are on the rise. Similarly, rates of asthma are increasing, and the presence of maternal asthma during pregnancy increases the likelihood of a child being later diagnosed with ASD. Particulate matter (PM), via air pollution, is an environmental factor known to worsen the symptoms of asthma, but also, PM has been associated with increased risk of neuropsychiatric disorders including ASD. Despite the links between asthma and PM with neuropsychiatric disorders, there is a lack of laboratory models investigating combined prenatal exposure to asthma and PM on offspring neurodevelopment. Thus, we developed a novel mouse model that combines exposure to maternal allergic asthma (MAA) and ultrafine iron-soot (UIS), a common component of PM. In the current study, female BALB/c mice were primed for allergic asthma with ovalbumin (OVA) prior to pregnancy. Following mating and beginning on gestational day 2 (GD2), dams were exposed to either aerosolized OVA or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for 1 hour. Following the 1-hour exposure, pregnant females were then exposed to UIS or clean air for 4 hours. Offspring brains were collected at postnatal days (P)15 and (P)35. Cortices and hippocampal regions were then isolated and assessed for changes in cytokines using a Luminex bead-based multiplex assay. Analyses identified changes in many cytokines across treatment groups at both timepoints in the cortex, including interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), IL-2, IL-13, and IL-17, which remained elevated from P15 to P35 in all treatment conditions compared to controls. In the hippocampus at P15, elevations in cytokines were also identified across the treatment groups, namely interferon gamma (IFNγ) and IL-7. The combination of MAA and UIS exposure (MAA-UIS) during pregnancy resulted in an increase in microglia density in the hippocampus of offspring, as identified by IBA-1 staining. Together, these data indicate that exposure to MAA, UIS, and MAA-UIS result in changes in the neuroimmune environment of offspring that persist into adulthood.
Collapse
|
13
|
Towriss M, MacVicar B, Ciernia AV. Modelling Microglial Innate Immune Memory In Vitro: Understanding the Role of Aerobic Glycolysis in Innate Immune Memory. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108967. [PMID: 37240311 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, play important roles in maintaining brain homeostasis and facilitating the brain's innate immune responses. Following immune challenges microglia also retain immune memories, which can alter responses to secondary inflammatory challenges. Microglia have two main memory states, training and tolerance, which are associated with increased and attenuated expression of inflammatory cytokines, respectively. However, the mechanisms differentiating these two distinct states are not well understood. We investigated mechanisms underlying training versus tolerance memory paradigms in vitro in BV2 cells using B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a priming stimulus followed by LPS as a second stimulus. BAFF followed by LPS showed enhanced responses indicative of priming, whereas LPS followed by LPS as the second stimulus caused reduced responses suggestive of tolerance. The main difference between the BAFF versus the LPS stimulus was the induction of aerobic glycolysis by LPS. Inhibiting aerobic glycolysis during the priming stimulus using sodium oxamate prevented the establishment of the tolerized memory state. In addition, tolerized microglia were unable to induce aerobic glycolysis upon LPS restimulus. Therefore, we conclude that aerobic glycolysis triggered by the first LPS stimulus was a critical step in the induction of innate immune tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Towriss
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Brian MacVicar
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Annie Vogel Ciernia
- Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Aldossari AA, Ansari MA, Nadeem A, Attia SM, Bakheet SA, Al-Ayadhi LY, Alanazi MM, Shahid M, Alwetaid MY, Hussein MH, Ahmad SF. Upregulation of Inflammatory Mediators in Peripheral Blood CD40 + Cells in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087475. [PMID: 37108638 PMCID: PMC10138695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common and severe neurodevelopmental disorder in early childhood, defined as social and communication deficits and repetitive and stereotypic behaviours. The aetiology is unknown in most cases. However, several studies have identified immune dysregulation as potentially promoting ASD. Among the numerous immunological findings in ASD, reports of increased pro-inflammatory markers remain the most consistently observed. C-C chemokine receptor type 1 (CCR1) activation is pro-inflammatory in several neurological disorders. Previous evidence has implied that the expression of chemokine receptors, inflammatory mediators, and transcription factors play a pivotal role in several neuroinflammatory disorders. There have also been reports on the association between increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines and ASD. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible involvement of CCR1, inflammatory mediators, and transcription factor expression in CD40+ cells in ASD compared to typically developing controls (TDC). Flow cytometry analysis was used to determine the levels of CCR1-, IFN-γ-, T-box transcription factor (T-bet-), IL-17A-, retinoid-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt-), IL-22- and TNF-α-expressing CD40 cells in PBMCs in children with ASD and the TDC group. We further examined the mRNA and protein expression levels of CCR1 using real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Our results revealed that children with ASD had significantly increased numbers of CD40+CCR1+, CD40+IFN-γ+, CD40+T-bet+, CD40+IL-17A+, CD40+RORγt+, CD4+IL-22+, and CD40+TNF-α+ cells compared with the TDC group. Furthermore, children with ASD had higher CCR1 mRNA and protein expression levels than those in the TDC group. These results indicate that CCR1, inflammatory mediators, and transcription factors expressed in CD40 cells play vital roles in disease progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah A Aldossari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mushtaq A Ansari
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Nadeem
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sabry M Attia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Bakheet
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Laila Y Al-Ayadhi
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed M Alanazi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mudassar Shahid
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad Y Alwetaid
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa H Hussein
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sheikh F Ahmad
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Kelly RS, Lee-Sarwar K, Chen YC, Laranjo N, Fichorova R, Chu SH, Prince N, Lasky-Su J, Weiss ST, Litonjua AA. Maternal Inflammatory Biomarkers during Pregnancy and Early Life Neurodevelopment in Offspring: Results from the VDAART Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315249. [PMID: 36499584 PMCID: PMC9739845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal infection and stress during the prenatal period have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, suggesting that biomarkers of increased inflammation in the mothers may associate with poorer developmental outcomes. In 491 mother-child pairs from the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART), we investigated the association between maternal levels of two inflammatory biomarkers; interleukin-8 (IL-8) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) during early (10-18 wks) and late (32-38 wks) pregnancy with offspring scores in the five domains of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, a validated screening tool for assessing early life development. We identified a robust association between early pregnancy IL-8 levels and decreased fine-motor (β: -0.919, 95%CI: -1.425, -0.414, p = 3.9 × 10-4) and problem-solving skills at age two (β: -1.221, 95%CI: -1.904, -0.414, p = 4.9 × 10-4). Associations between IL-8 with other domains of development and those for CRP did not survive correction for multiple testing. Similarly, while there was some evidence that the detrimental effects of early pregnancy IL-8 were strongest in boys and in those who were not breastfed, these interactions were not robust to correction for multiple testing. However, further research is required to determine if other maternal inflammatory biomarkers associate with offspring neurodevelopment and work should continue to focus on the management of factors leading to increases in IL-8 levels in pregnant women.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Kelly
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Kathleen Lee-Sarwar
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02467, USA
| | - Yih-Chieh Chen
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02467, USA
| | - Nancy Laranjo
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Raina Fichorova
- Laboratory of Genital Tract Biology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Su H. Chu
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nicole Prince
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jessica Lasky-Su
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Scott T. Weiss
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Augusto A. Litonjua
- Division of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Golisano Children’s Hospital at Strong, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| |
Collapse
|