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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has devastating effects on the population worldwide. Given this scenario, the extent of the impact of the disease on more vulnerable individuals, such as pregnant women, is of great concern. Although pregnancy may be a risk factor in respiratory virus infections, there are no considerable differences regarding COVID-19 severity observed between pregnant and nonpregnant women. In these circumstances, an emergent concern is the possibility of neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric harm for the offspring of infected mothers. Currently, there is no stronger evidence indicating vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2; however, the exacerbated inflammatory response observed in the disease could lead to several impairments in the offspring’s brain. Furthermore, in the face of historical knowledge on possible long-term consequences for the progeny’s brain after infection by viruses, we must consider that this might be another deleterious facet of COVID-19. In light of neuroimmune interactions at the maternal-fetal interface, we review here the possible harmful outcomes to the offspring brains of mothers infected by SARS-CoV-2.

Background The term sepsis is used to designate a systemic condition of infection and inflammation associated with hemodynamic changes that result in organic dysfunction. Gestational sepsis can impair the development of the central nervous system and may promote permanent behavior alterations in the offspring. The aim of our work was to evaluate the effects of maternal sepsis on inflammatory cytokine levels and synaptic proteins in the hippocampus, neocortex, frontal cortex, and cerebellum of neonatal, young, and adult mice. Additionally, we analyzed the motor development, behavioral features, and cognitive impairments in neonatal, young and adult offspring. Methods Pregnant mice at the 14th embryonic day (E14) were intratracheally instilled with saline 0.9% solution (control group) or Klebsiella spp. (3 × 108 CFU) (sepsis group) and started on meropenem after 5 h. The offspring was sacrificed at postnatal day (P) 2, P8, P30, and P60 and samples of liver, lung, and brain were collected for TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 measurements by ELISA. Synaptophysin, PSD95, and β-tubulin levels were analyzed by Western blot. Motor tests were performed at all analyzed ages and behavioral assessments were performed in offspring at P30 and P60. Results Gestational sepsis induces a systemic pro-inflammatory response in neonates at P2 and P8 characterized by an increase in cytokine levels. Maternal sepsis induced systemic downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while in the hippocampus, neocortex, frontal cortex, and cerebellum an inflammatory response was detected. These changes in the brain immunity were accompanied by a reduction of synaptophysin and PSD95 levels in the hippocampus, neocortex, frontal cortex, and cerebellum, in all ages. Behavioral tests demonstrated motor impairment in neonates, and depressive-like behavior, fear-conditioned memory, and learning impairments in animals at P30 and P60, while spatial memory abilities were affected only at P60, indicating that gestational sepsis not only induces an inflammatory response in neonatal mouse brains, but also affects neurodevelopment, and leads to a plethora of behavioral alterations and cognitive impairments in the offspring. Conclusion These data suggest that maternal sepsis may be causatively related to the development of depression, learning, and memory impairments in the litter.

A cultura de utilização de plantas para fins medicinais é comum nas comunidades brasileiras, devido à miscigenação de africanos e indígenas. São importantes pesquisas que comprovem a verdadeira ação dessas plantas medicinais. Esse trabalho teve por objetivo realizar revisão bibliográfica e descrever sobre o potencial medicinal da planta do cerrado brasileiro, o Stryphnodendron adstringens conhecido como “Barbatimão” destacando propriedades medicinais e bioquímicas, partes utilizadas e modo de uso popular. A pesquisa de natureza descritiva foi realizada através de revisão bibliográfica, baseada em obras primárias e secundárias publicadas entre 2001 e 2013. Stryphnodendron adstringens, conhecido como barbatimão espécie nativa do Cerrado dentre as propriedades medicinais apontadas, apresenta atividade antibacteriana, contraStaphylococcus aureus, antifúngica, combate ao crescimento de Candida albicans, anticancerígeno, inibitória contra alguns efeitos enzimáticos e biológicos das peçonhas de serpentes botrópicas, contra micro-organismos da cárie dental, propriedade de cicatrização, ação sobre o Trypanosoma cruzi e Leishmania amazonensis, propriedades contra úlceras, entre outras. Suas folhas, cascas possuem propriedades medicinais comprovadas, mostrado por alguns autores como sendo importante agente antimicrobiano e também agente antiofídico alternativo, que pode ser utilizado com a soroterapia. Não possui atividade genotóxica, concluindo que a utilização parece ser seguro, e com potencial farmacológico.

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