Cited by 248Tryptophan and brain disordersNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms

Maternal immune activation by LPS selectively alters specific gene expression profiles of interneuron migration and oxidative stress in the fetus without triggering a fetal immune response

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Oskvig, Devon B., Elkahloun, Abdel G., Johnson, Kory R., Phillips, Terry M., Herkenham, Miles·2012·Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

Abstract

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is a risk factor for the development of schizophrenia and autism. Infections during pregnancy activate the mother's immune system and alter the fetal environment, with consequential effects on CNS function and behavior in the offspring, but the cellular and molecular links between infection-induced altered fetal development and risk for neuropsychiatric disorders are unknown. We investigated the immunological, molecular, and behavioral effects of MIA in the offspring of pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats given an intraperitoneal (0.25 mg/kg) injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on gestational day 15. LPS significantly elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, and fetal brain at 4 h, and levels decreased but remained elevated at 24 h. Offspring born to LPS-treated dams exhibited reduced social preference and exploration behaviors as juveniles and young adults. Whole genome microarray analysis of the fetal brain at 4 h post maternal LPS was performed to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms by which MIA affects the fetal brain. We observed dysregulation of 3285 genes in restricted functional categories, with increased mRNA expression of cellular stress and cell death genes and reduced expression of developmentally-regulated and brain-specific genes, specifically those that regulate neuronal migration of GABAergic interneurons, including the Distal-less (Dlx) family of transcription factors required for tangential migration from progenitor pools within the ganglionic eminences into the cerebral cortex. Our results provide a novel mechanism by which MIA induces the widespread down-regulation of critical neurodevelopmental genes, including those previously associated with autism.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.bbi.2012.01.015

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  • Gene expression alterations in MIA also involve neuronal migration processes that could underlie observed cortical layering defects, characterized by a 24% increase in neuron numbers in cortical layers II/III.

    “Gene expression alterations also involve neuronal migration processes [128] that could underlie observed cortical layering defects, characterized by a 24% increase in neuron numbers in cortical layers II/III [131].”
  • MIA strongly upregulates cell cycle gene expression and cell proliferation, and may cause brain overgrowth.

    “MIA strongly upregulates cell cycle gene expression and cell proliferation, and may cause brain overgrowth [127–129].”
  • Both poly(I:C) and LPS affect maternal cytokine signaling (e.g., interleukin-6) that passes through the placenta to affect fetal brain development.

    “Both poly(I:C) and LPS affect maternal cytokine signaling (e.g., interleukin-6) that passes through the placenta to affect fetal brain development31”
  • Maternal infection is a primary environmental risk factor for ASD.

    “Maternal infection is a primary environmental risk factor for ASD based on numerous epidemiological, clinical and animal studies (93–98).”

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Authors
Oskvig, D. B., Elkahloun, A. G., Johnson, K. R., Phillips, T. M., & Herkenham, M.
Affiliations
National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Herkenham, Miles
Venue
Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-05
Volume
26
Issue
4
Pages
623-634
ISSN
0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2052297858
Cited by
248
References
117
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 9
FWCI
5.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Brain Behavior and Immunity (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (ZIAMH001090)
  • National Human Genome Research Institute (ZICHG200365)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
Keywords
maternal immune activation, lipopolysaccharide, oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokines, autism risk, schizophrenia risk, social behavior, brain development, prenatal infection, cortical development
MeSH terms
Amniotic Fluid, Animals, Autistic Disorder, Brain, Cell Movement, Exploratory Behavior, Female, Fetus, Interneurons, Lipopolysaccharides, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Complications, Infectious, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects, RNA, Messenger, Social Behavior, Transcription Factors, Down-Regulation, Cytokines, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Oxidative Stress, Gene Expression Profiling, Rats

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