Maternal immune responses and obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and possible health risks of offspring

Cavalcante, Marcelo Borges; Cavalcante, Candice Torres de Melo Bezerra; Sarno, Manoel; Barini, Ricardo; Kwak‐Kim, Joanne

doi:10.1016/j.jri.2020.103250

Cited by 53 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 102 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Human epidemiological research has revealed an association between infection during gestation and risk for neurodevelopmental disorders (Babulas et al, 2006; Estes and McAllister, 2016; Sørensen et al, 2008). With the outbreak and worldwide spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the long-lasting risks that gestational infections pose to offspring has gained significant attention (Cavalcante et al, 2020). It is critical to understand the underlying pathogenic mechanisms associated with these infections, and potential therapeutic interventions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poly (I:C)-induced maternal immune activation modifies ventral hippocampal regulation of stress reactivity: prevention by environmental enrichment

Zhao

Mohammed

Tran

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Environmental enrichment (EE) has been successfully implemented in human rehabilitation settings, including demonstrated benefits for children with autism. However, the mechanisms underlying its success are not understood. Incorporating components of EE protocols into our animal models allows for the exploration of these mechanisms and their role in mitigation. Using a mouse model of maternal immune activation (MIA), the present study explored disruptions in social behavior and associated hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis functioning, and whether a supportive environment could prevent these effects. We show that prenatal immune activation of toll-like receptor 3, by the viral mimetic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), led to disrupted maternal care in that dams built nests of poorer quality, an effect corrected by EE housing. Standard housed male and female MIA mice engaged in higher rates of repetitive rearing and had lower levels of social interaction, alongside sex-specific expression of several ventral hippocampal neural stress markers (e.g., corticotropin releasing hormone (Crh) and Crh receptor 1, glucocorticoid receptor, oxytocin receptor, protein kinase C and Camk2a mRNA). Moreover, MIA males had delayed recovery of plasma corticosterone in response to a novel social encounter. Enrichment housing, likely mediated by improved maternal care, protected against these MIA-induced effects. We also evaluated c-Fos immunoreactivity associated with the novel social experience and found MIA to decrease neural activation in the dentate gyrus. Activation in the hypothalamus, including the suprammamillary nucleus (an important region for social novelty) was blunted in EE housed animals, suggesting that the putative circuits modulating social behaviors may be different between standard and complex housing environments. Gestational poly (I:C) and EE also altered gene expression of stress and synaptic plasticity markers in the prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus. These data demonstrate that augmentation of the environment supports parental care and offspring safety/security, which can offset effects of early health adversity by buffering HPA dysregulation.Highlights- Environmental enrichment (EE) protocols are used clinically to promote rehabilitation- Use of EE in animal models may identify mechanisms underlying clinical successes- Maternal immune activation (MIA) decreased social engagement; this effect was blocked by EE- MIA reduced c-Fos activation in the dentate gyrus, while EE reduced activation in the hypothalamus, in response to social stimuli- EE inhibited MIA-induced HPA dysregulation in ventral hippocampus

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Poly (I:C)-induced maternal immune activation modifies ventral hippocampal regulation of stress reactivity: prevention by environmental enrichment

Zhao

Mohammed

Tran

et al. 2021

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As the case with other maternal viral infections during pregnancy (eg H1N1), possible neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in the offspring of COVID‐19–infected mothers could be long‐term outcomes 4 falling into the spectrum of non‐communicable diseases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…2 Furthermore, COVID-19 has been related to an increase in preterm births, to a lesser extent, foetal growth restriction and to predominantly Caesarean section deliveries. 3,4 All of these factors have been closely associated with non-communicable diseases, 4,5 although underlying maternal conditions are also possible culprits.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Stillbirths and postnatal symptoms suggest that COVID‐19 may have a direct impact on the foetus and neonate. The increased stillbirth rates, possibly attributed to lack of care during confinement, may result from placental tissue/amniotic membrane viral infection 4 . Feeding difficulties and diarrhoea in the neonate may point to dysbiosis, while lack of breastfeeding, as suggested in some studies, can alter a healthy microbiome and may contribute to short‐term and long‐term non‐communicable diseases.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Could children born to mothers with COVID‐19 be more prone to non‐communicable diseases?

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…It is proposed that euthyroid pregnant women who infected by COVID-19 in the first trimester, may need to be re-assessed during 2nd, and 3rd trimesters and the postpartum periods. As a result in addition to the adverse effect of virus infection on pregnancy outcomes; this effect may be intensified by the possible impact of COVID-19 on the thyroid function of pregnant women [ 25 , 26 ].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Following SARS-CoV-2 in the first trimester of pregnancy, what should we do in the 2nd, 3rd trimesters, and postpartum in terms of thyroid assessment?

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Maternal immune responses and obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and possible health risks of offspring

Cited by 53 publications

References 102 publications

Poly (I:C)-induced maternal immune activation modifies ventral hippocampal regulation of stress reactivity: prevention by environmental enrichment

Poly (I:C)-induced maternal immune activation modifies ventral hippocampal regulation of stress reactivity: prevention by environmental enrichment

Could children born to mothers with COVID‐19 be more prone to non‐communicable diseases?

Following SARS-CoV-2 in the first trimester of pregnancy, what should we do in the 2nd, 3rd trimesters, and postpartum in terms of thyroid assessment?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About