Cited by 77Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration MechanismsTryptophan and brain disordersAutism Spectrum Disorder Research

Maternal inflammation promotes fetal microglial activation and increased cholinergic expression in the fetal basal forebrain: role of interleukin-6

Pratt, Lorelei, Ni, Li, Ponzio, Nicholas M., Jonakait, G. Miller·2013·Pediatric Research

Abstract

Background Perinatal exposure to infectious agents with associated maternal immune activation (MIA) leads to neuroanatomical and behavioral dysregulation reminiscent of autism spectrum disorders. Persistent microglial activation as well as increased choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in the basal forebrain (BF) are characteristic of autistic subjects. Previous studies have shown that medium from activated microglia promotes cholinergic differentiation of precursors in the BF. We sought to determine whether MIA in vivo would lead to a similar effect on developing BF neurons.Methods Pregnant mice were treated with the viral mimic polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) or saline.Results Poly(I:C) treatment resulted in increased production of cytokines and chemokines in fetal microglia and increased ChAT activity and cholinergic cell number in the perinatal BF. Whether microglial activation causes these changes is unclear. Examination of fetal brains from mice lacking interleukin-6 (IL-6 KOs) revealed an elevation in non-microglial-derived cytokines and chemokines over wild-type controls. Moreover, IL-6 KO offspring showed an elevation of ChAT activity even in the absence of poly(I:C) administration.Conclusion These data suggest that elevations in cytokines and/or chemokines caused either by maternal poly(I:C) administration or by the absence of IL-6 are associated with alterations in cholinergic development in the BF.

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Crossref · 10.1038/pr.2013.126

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  • Adult MIA offspring exhibit heightened microglial activation, as noted by increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α.

    “Adult MIA offspring exhibit heightened microglial activation, as noted by increased levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (Pratt et al., 2013; Mattei et al., 2017).”

    From Microbiome–microglia connections via the gut–brain axis (2019) · cites this paper as Pratt et al., 2013

  • Commensal symbiotic bacteria are critical for proper microglial maturation, and induction of infection in pregnant dams can have disruptive effects on the progression of microglial development in offspring.

    “While commensal symbiotic bacteria are critical for proper microglial maturation, induction of infection in pregnant dams can have disruptive effects on the progression of microglial development in offspring (Pratt et al., 2013; Matcovitch-Natan et al., 2016; Mattei et al., 2017).”

    From Microbiome–microglia connections via the gut–brain axis (2019) · cites this paper as Pratt et al., 2013

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Authors
Pratt, L., Ni, L., Ponzio, N. M., & Jonakait, G. M.
Affiliations
  • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
  • New Jersey Institute of Technology (US)
  • Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (US)
Corresponding author
Pratt, Lorelei
ORCID
Ni, Li
Venue
Pediatric Research
Published
2013-07-22
Volume
74
Issue
4
Pages
393-401
ISSN
  • 0031-3998 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-0447
OpenAlex
W1994874327
Cited by
77
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 1
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Pediatric Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Keywords
maternal immune activation, cholinergic neurons, choline acetyltransferase, basal forebrain, interleukin-6, poly(I:C), autism spectrum disorder, cytokines, chemokines, neuroinflammation, perinatal infection
MeSH terms
Analysis of Variance, Animals, Choline O-Acetyltransferase, Female, Fetus, Inflammation, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Poly I-C, Pregnancy, Interleukin-6, Cytokines, Prosencephalon, Microglia, DNA Primers, Mice, Knockout, Maternal Exposure, Chemokines, Mice, Cholinergic Neurons, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction

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