Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders

David Beversdorf; Hanna Stevens; Karen Jones

doi:10.1007/s11920-018-0945-4

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Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders

David Beversdorf, Hanna Stevens and Karen Jones

Current psychiatry reports, Vol.20(9), pp.1-12

09/2018

DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0945-4

PMCID: PMC6369590

PMID: 30094645

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Abstract

While genetic factors are a major etiological contributor to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), evidence also supports a role for environmental factors. Herein, we will discuss two such factors that have been associated with a significant proportion of ASD risk: prenatal stress exposure and maternal immune dysregulation, and how sex and gender relate to these factors.Recent evidence suggests that maternal stress susceptibility interacts with prenatal stress exposure to affect offspring neurodevelopment. Additionally, understanding of the impact of maternal immune dysfunction on ASD has recently been advanced by recognition of specific fetal brain proteins targeted by maternal autoantibodies, and identification of unique mid-gestational maternal immune profiles. Animal models have been developed to explore pathophysiology targeting both of these factors, with limited sex-specific effects observed.While prenatal stress and maternal immune dysregulation are associated with ASD, most cases of these prenatal exposures do not result in ASD, suggesting interaction with multiple other risks. We are beginning to understand the behavioral, pharmacopathological, and epigenetic effects related to these interactions, as well as potential mitigating factors. Sex differences of these risks have been understudied but are crucial for understanding the higher prevalence of ASD in boys. Continued growth in understanding of these mechanisms may ultimately allow for the identification of multiple potential points for prevention or intervention, and for a personalized medicine approach for this subset of environmental-associated ASD cases.

Prenatal

Medicine & Public Health

Antibodies

Psychiatry

Immunity

Gene × environment

Autism spectrum disorder

Stress

Details

Title: Subtitle: Prenatal Stress, Maternal Immune Dysregulation, and Their Association With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Creators: David Beversdorf - 0000 0001 2162 3504 grid.134936.a Department of Radiology University of Missouri DC 069.10, One Hospital Drive Columbia MO 65212 USA
Hanna Stevens - 0000 0004 1936 8294 grid.214572.7 Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, Iowa Neuroscience Institute University of Iowa Iowa City IA USA
Karen Jones - 0000 0004 1936 9684 grid.27860.3b Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Clinical Immunology, And the MIND Institute University of California, Davis Davis CA USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Current psychiatry reports, Vol.20(9), pp.1-12
DOI: 10.1007/s11920-018-0945-4
PMID: 30094645
PMCID: PMC6369590
NLM abbreviation: Curr Psychiatry Rep
ISSN: 1523-3812
eISSN: 1535-1645
Publisher: Springer US; New York
Language: English
Date published: 09/2018
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984003958202771

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