Prenatal inflammation exposure-programmed cardiovascular diseases and potential prevention

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Developmental Biology
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a global health threat despite advances in treating other noncommunicable chronic diseases (NCDs).
• Maternal insults during pregnancy can cause developmental defects, contributing to adult-onset NCDs, including CVDs.
• Prenatal inflammation exposure (PIE) is increasingly recognized as a critical factor in developmental reprogramming of adult CVDs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review epidemiological and experimental evidence linking prenatal inflammation exposure (PIE) to the development of adult cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
• To explore the mechanisms underlying PIE-programmed CVDs.
• To discuss potential therapeutic strategies and future research directions for PIE-programmed CVDs.

Main Methods:

• Review of epidemiological studies investigating the association between maternal inflammation and offspring CVDs.
• Analysis of experimental data from animal models demonstrating the impact of prenatal inflammation on cardiovascular development.
• Synthesis of current knowledge on the pathogenetic mechanisms of PIE-programmed CVDs.

Main Results:

• Epidemiological data and animal studies consistently support the concept that prenatal inflammation exposure reprograms fetal development, leading to adult cardiovascular diseases (PIE-programmed CVDs).
• Mechanisms involve complex interactions affecting cardiovascular development and function.
• This reprogramming represents a significant, yet often uncontrolled, contributor to the global CVD burden.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal inflammation exposure is a critical, modifiable risk factor for adult cardiovascular diseases.
• Understanding and managing maternal inflammation offers a promising avenue for preventing PIE-programmed CVDs.
• Future research should focus on mechanistic studies and biomarker discovery to effectively combat the rise in CVDs.