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Updated: Feb 16, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

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Chorioamnionitis, IL-17A, and fetal origins of neurologic disease

Shelley M Lawrence1,2, James L Wynn3,4

  • 1College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA.

American Journal of Reproductive Immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989)
|December 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) is a key mediator in fetal brain injury and cerebral palsy development. Maternal inflammation during pregnancy also impacts offspring neurological health, affecting conditions like autism and multiple sclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Developmental Biology

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy affects 1 in 323 infants, with incidence unchanged by neonatal care advances.
  • Intrauterine infection and inflammation are highly correlated with cerebral palsy.
  • Immune responses, particularly cytokine IL-17A, are implicated in fetal brain injury.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of IL-17A in fetal and maternal inflammatory responses causing brain injury.
  • To highlight IL-17A's contribution to cerebral palsy and other neurologic sequelae.
  • To discuss maternal inflammatory responses in the development of childhood and adult neurologic conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on IL-17A, fetal brain injury, and maternal inflammation.
  • Analysis of immune pathways linking inflammation to neurologic impairment.
  • Synthesis of findings on IL-17A's role in cerebral palsy, autism, schizophrenia, and multiple sclerosis.

Main Results:

  • IL-17A is identified as a crucial early proinflammatory mediator causing brain injury.
  • Maternal inflammatory responses can lead to debilitating neurologic conditions in offspring.
  • IL-17A plays a significant role in fetal brain injury and subsequent neurologic conditions.

Conclusions:

  • IL-17A is a critical factor in fetal brain injury and cerebral palsy.
  • Maternal inflammation during pregnancy has long-term neurological consequences for offspring.
  • Targeting IL-17A may offer therapeutic strategies for preventing or treating neurodevelopmental disorders.

Keywords:
IL-17Aautismcerebral palsychorioamnionitisneonatesschizophrenia

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