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Erdogan MA, Turk M, Doganay GD, Sever IH, Ozkul B, Sogut I, Eroglu E, Uyanikgil Y, Erbas O. Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Exposure Induces Autism-Like Neurobehavioral Changes in Male Neonatal Rats. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2023; 18:573-591. [PMID: 37889404 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-023-10089-4] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent research on placental, embryo, and brain organoids suggests that the COVID-19 virus may potentially affect embryonic organs, including the brain. Given the established link between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and neuroinflammation, we sought to investigate the effects of exposure to this protein during pregnancy. We divided pregnant rats into three groups: Group 1 received a 1 ml/kg saline solution, Group 2 received 150 μg/kg adjuvant aluminum hydroxide (AAH), and Group 3 received 40 μg/kg spike protein + 150 μg/kg AAH at 10 and 14 days of gestation. On postnatal day 21 (P21), we randomly separated 60 littermates (10 male-female) into control, AAH-exposed, and spike protein-exposed groups. At P50, we conducted behavioral analyses on these mature animals and performed MR spectroscopy. Subsequently, all animals were sacrificed, and their brains were subject to biochemical and histological analysis. Our findings indicate that male rats exposed to the spike protein displayed a higher rate of impaired performance on behavioral studies, including the three-chamber social test, passive avoidance learning analysis, open field test, rotarod test, and novelty-induced cultivation behavior, indicative of autistic symptoms. Exposure to the spike protein (male) induced gliosis and neuronal cell death in the CA1-CA3 regions of the hippocampus and cerebellum. The spike protein-exposed male rats exhibited significantly greater levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and lactate and lower levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) than the control group. Our study suggests a potential association between prenatal exposure to COVID-19 spike protein and neurodevelopmental problems, such as ASD. These findings highlight the importance of further research into the potential effects of the COVID-19 virus on embryonic and fetal development and the potential long-term consequences for neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mumin Alper Erdogan
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Izmir Katip Celebi University, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Miray Turk
- Graduate School, Department of Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Gizem Dinler Doganay
- Graduate School, Department of Molecular Biology-Genetics and Biotechnology, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
- Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, 34469, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Halil Sever
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Demiroğlu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Bahattin Ozkul
- School of Medicine, Department of Radiology, Istanbul Atlas University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ibrahim Sogut
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Demiroğlu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ebru Eroglu
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yigit Uyanikgil
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Oytun Erbas
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Demiroğlu Bilim University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Shuffrey LC, Firestein MR, Kyle MH, Fields A, Alcántara C, Amso D, Austin J, Bain JM, Barbosa J, Bence M, Bianco C, Fernández CR, Goldman S, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, Hott V, Hu Y, Hussain M, Factor-Litvak P, Lucchini M, Mandel A, Marsh R, McBrian D, Mourad M, Muhle R, Noble KG, Penn AA, Rodriguez C, Sania A, Silver WG, O’Reilly KC, Stockwell M, Tottenham N, Welch MG, Zork N, Fifer WP, Monk C, Dumitriu D. Association of Birth During the COVID-19 Pandemic With Neurodevelopmental Status at 6 Months in Infants With and Without In Utero Exposure to Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection. JAMA Pediatr 2022; 176:e215563. [PMID: 34982107 PMCID: PMC8728661 DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.5563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Associations between in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurodevelopment are speculated, but currently unknown. OBJECTIVE To examine the associations between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, being born during the COVID-19 pandemic regardless of maternal SARS-CoV-2 status, and neurodevelopment at age 6 months. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cohort of infants exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and unexposed controls was enrolled in the COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes Initiative at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City. All women who delivered at Columbia University Irving Medical Center with a SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy were approached. Women with unexposed infants were approached based on similar gestational age at birth, date of birth, sex, and mode of delivery. Neurodevelopment was assessed using the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3) at age 6 months. A historical cohort of infants born before the pandemic who had completed the 6-month ASQ-3 were included in secondary analyses. EXPOSURES Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and birth during the COVID-19 pandemic. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Outcomes were scores on the 5 ASQ-3 subdomains, with the hypothesis that maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy would be associated with decrements in social and motor development at age 6 months. RESULTS Of 1706 women approached, 596 enrolled; 385 women were invited to a 6-month assessment, of whom 272 (70.6%) completed the ASQ-3. Data were available for 255 infants enrolled in the COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes Initiative (114 in utero exposed, 141 unexposed to SARS-CoV-2; median maternal age at delivery, 32.0 [IQR, 19.0-45.0] years). Data were also available from a historical cohort of 62 infants born before the pandemic. In utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with significant differences on any ASQ-3 subdomain, regardless of infection timing or severity. However, compared with the historical cohort, infants born during the pandemic had significantly lower scores on gross motor (mean difference, -5.63; 95% CI, -8.75 to -2.51; F1,267 = 12.63; P<.005), fine motor (mean difference, -6.61; 95% CI, -10.00 to -3.21; F1,267 = 14.71; P < .005), and personal-social (mean difference, -3.71; 95% CI, -6.61 to -0.82; F1,267 = 6.37; P<.05) subdomains in fully adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, birth during the pandemic, but not in utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection, was associated with differences in neurodevelopment at age 6 months. These early findings support the need for long-term monitoring of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C. Shuffrey
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Morgan R. Firestein
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Margaret H. Kyle
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Andrea Fields
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | | | - Dima Amso
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Judy Austin
- Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer M. Bain
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jennifer Barbosa
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Mary Bence
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Catherine Bianco
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Cristina R. Fernández
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Sylvie Goldman
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Cynthia Gyamfi-Bannerman
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
| | - Violet Hott
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Yunzhe Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Maha Hussain
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Pam Factor-Litvak
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Maristella Lucchini
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Arthur Mandel
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Rachel Marsh
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Danielle McBrian
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Mirella Mourad
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, New York
| | - Rebecca Muhle
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kimberly G. Noble
- Department of Neuroscience and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Anna A. Penn
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | | | - Ayesha Sania
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Wendy G. Silver
- Department of Neurology, Division of Child Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kally C. O’Reilly
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York
| | - Melissa Stockwell
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Nim Tottenham
- Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - Martha G. Welch
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Noelia Zork
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, New York
| | - William P. Fifer
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Catherine Monk
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center New York, New York
| | - Dani Dumitriu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York,Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
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Shook LL, Sullivan EL, Lo JO, Perlis RH, Edlow AG. COVID-19 in pregnancy: implications for fetal brain development. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:319-330. [PMID: 35277325 PMCID: PMC8841149 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy on the developing fetal brain is poorly understood. Other antenatal infections such as influenza have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Although vertical transmission has been rarely observed in SARS-CoV-2 to date, given the potential for profound maternal immune activation (MIA), impact on the developing fetal brain is likely. Here we review evidence that SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections during pregnancy can result in maternal, placental, and fetal immune activation, and ultimately in offspring neurodevelopmental morbidity. Finally, we highlight the need for cellular models of fetal brain development to better understand potential short- and long-term impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the next generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia L Shook
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elinor L Sullivan
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Jamie O Lo
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Roy H Perlis
- Center for Quantitative Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrea G Edlow
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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