Contracting a viral infection during pregnancy could stunt the development of the fetus's brain and increase its risk of being diagnosed with autism, a new study found.
The research, conducted by Irene Sanchez Martin from the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, was performed on mouse embryos. Other studies analyze the effects of a viral infection during pregnancy on the behaviors of children as adults. Sanchez Martin's study, however, analyzed its effects on fetuses after exposure.
Her experiments with mice showed that when a pregnant mother contacts a virus, it can lead to maternal immune activation (MIA). This, in turn, can slow down the baby's brain development and lead to developmental deficits, including autism spectrum disorder, the study noted.
Other studies have also analyzed how MIA affects a child's risk of autism. Sanchez Martin's work is the first to look at its effects on an embryo in an autism model.
What Is Maternal Immune Activation?
MIA refers to the activation of the immune system of a pregnant mother, which typically happens in response to an infection. While activated, the body releases more cytokines and chemokines to fight infections.
It is important to note that MIA can also be triggered by other things such as autoimmune conditions, asthma and allergies, metabolic disorders, nutritional deficits, and psychosocial stress.
This reaction can cause a change in the environment in a mother's womb. The brains of fetuses are sensitive. A sudden change could lead to behavioral issues and social impairments like autism.
Study Findings
In Sanchez Martin's experiments, all the female mice embryos appeared to be protected from developmental deficits despite the mother contracting viral infections. In comparison, one-third of the male embryos were strongly affected.
This is in line with data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which notes that boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls.
Sanchez Martin's findings were recently presented at the Society for Neuroscience conference in Chicago. She noted that her research is still in its early stages and more work needs to be done to definitively link viral infections such as the cold and flu to autism.
