The association between maternal immune activation and brain structure and function in human offspring: a systematic...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Biology
• Immunology

Background:

• Maternal immune activation (MIA) from infections or inflammation during pregnancy is increasingly linked to adverse child neurodevelopment.
• Research has primarily focused on preterm infants, necessitating a broader review of MIA effects on neurodevelopment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review neuroimaging studies examining the association between prenatal MIA and child structural/functional brain development.
• To synthesize findings across various MIA types, including inflammatory biomarkers, chorioamnionitis, other infections, HIV, and Zika virus.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of 111 neuroimaging studies.
• Categorization of studies based on five MIA areas: inflammatory biomarkers, chorioamnionitis, other infections, HIV, and Zika virus.
• Analysis of study designs, sample sizes, and neurodevelopmental outcomes up to one year postpartum.

Main Results:

• Severe infections (HIV, Zika virus) consistently associated with cerebral lesions (microcephaly, atrophy, periventricular leukomalacia).
• Less severe infections and chronic inflammation showed inconsistent findings, primarily affecting white matter structure/function.
• Most studies focused on infant brain development, with a median sample size of 53 participants.

Conclusions:

• Prenatal exposure to severe infections significantly impacts infant brain structure.
• The effect of less severe infections and chronic inflammation on child neurodevelopment remains unclear due to inconsistent findings.
• Future research should explore long-term neurodevelopmental effects and investigate the persistence of observed brain alterations.