Prenatal inflammation impairs early CD11c-positive microglia induction and delays myelination in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Abstract

Histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is a form of maternal immune activation (MIA) linked to an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring. Our previous study identified neurodevelopmental impairments in an MIA mouse model mimicking HCA. Thus, this study investigated the role of CD11cmicroglia, key contributors to myelination through IGF-1 production, in this pathology. In the mouse model, the CD11cmicroglial population was significantly lower in the MIA group than in the control group on postnatal day 3 (PN3d). Furthermore, myelination-related protein levels significantly decreased in the MIA group at PN8d. In humans, preterm infants with HCA exhibited higher IL-6 and IL-17A cord-serum levels and lower IGF-1 levels than those without HCA, followed by a higher incidence of delayed myelination on magnetic resonance imaging at the term-equivalent age. In silico analysis revealed that the transient induction of CD11cmicroglia during early development occurred similarly in mice and humans. Notably, a lack of high CD11cmicroglial population has been observed in children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This study reports impaired induction of CD11cmicroglia during postnatal development in a mouse model of MIA associated with delayed myelination. Our findings may inform strategies for improving outcomes in infants with HCA.