Neurodevelopmental implications of COVID-19-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis in pregnant women

The global public health emergency of COVID-19 in January 2020 prompted a surge in research focusing on the pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of the virus. While numerous reports have been published on the acute effects of COVID-19 infection, the review explores the multifaceted long-term implications of COVID-19, with a particular focus on severe maternal COVID-19 infection, gut microbiome dysbiosis, and neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Severe COVID-19 infection has been associated with heightened immune system activation and gastrointestinal symptoms. Severe COVID-19 may also result in gut microbiome dysbiosis and a compromised intestinal mucosal barrier, often referred to as 'leaky gut'. Increased gut permeability facilitates the passage of inflammatory cytokines, originating from the inflamed intestinal mucosa and gut, into the bloodstream, thereby influencing fetal development during pregnancy and potentially elevating the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. The current review discusses the role of cytokine signaling molecules, microglia, and synaptic pruning, highlighting their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders following maternal COVID-19 infection. Additionally, this review addresses the potential of probiotic interventions to mitigate gut dysbiosis and inflammatory responses associated with COVID-19, offering avenues for future research in optimizing maternal and fetal health outcomes.