神经损伤与修复
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Figure 1｜Maternal immune activation (MIA) stimulates abnormal dendritic growth of neural precursor cell-derived neurons.
The collective findings of dysregulated electrophysiological and morphological properties of hippocampal neurons in response to MIA (Griego et al., 2022) along with the correlation between neuronal maturation, dendritic complexity, and emergence of electrophysiological properties of in vitro NPC-derived neurons (Gutiérrez-Casta?eda et al., 2023), prompted us to investigate the effect of MIA on NPC-derived neurons. We hypothesized that an unfavorable environment in the neurogenic niche, i.e., a transitory production of maternal pro-inflammatory cytokines, would alter both dendritic development and electrophysiological properties of postnatal NPC-derived neurons. Preliminary data obtained in our laboratory supports this notion: NPC-derived neurons obtained from MIA-exposed dams exhibit an unexpected increase in dendritic arborization and, consequently, an increased number of primary, secondary, and tertiary dendrites compared with control NPC-derived neurons. In line with the altered development of dendritic branching, MIA-exposed NPC-derived neurons exhibit an early appearance of action potentials compared with control NPC-derived neurons (Figure 1). The latter phenomenon suggests faster maturation of voltage-dependent ion channels embedded in the plasma membrane, which could result in hyperexcitability. We can speculate that these phenomena affect the correct neuronal migration process as well as cell survival and integration into the existing neuronal network. Moreover, NPC-derived neurons from pups exposed to MIA may exhibit different synaptic properties, including altered synaptic plasticity that may alter the input/output balance of a local neuronal network. Although appealing, additional research is required to determine the functional consequences of MIA in the postnatal neurogenic process. It is highly plausible that the maternal production of cytokines impacts temporal and spatial computational features of dendrites (see, for example, Calixto et al., 2008), plasticity capabilities and output of postnatal born neurons integrated into the local neuronal networks. In light of the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many women experienced this viral infection during pregnancy, it is necessary to explore the effects of COVID-19-mediated MIA on the neuronal development, migration, and plasticity of postnatal neurons, since this prospective hazard could emerge as a psychiatric health issue in the near future.