title: Maternal Immune Activation Causes Behavioral Impairments and Altered Cerebellar Cytokine and Synaptic Protein Expression.
abstract: Emerging epidemiology studies indicate that maternal immune activation (MIA) resulting from inflammatory stimuli such as viral or bacterial infections during pregnancy serves as a risk factor for multiple neurodevelopmental disorders including autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Although alterations in the cortex and hippocampus of MIA offspring have been described, less evidence exists on the impact on the cerebellum. Here, we report altered expression of cytokines and chemokines in the cerebellum of MIA offspring, including increase in the neuroinflammatory cytokine TNFα and its receptor TNFR1. We also report reduced expression of the synaptic organizing proteins cerebellin-1 and GluRδ2. These synaptic protein alterations are associated with a deficit in the ability of cerebellar neurons to form synapses and an increased number of dendritic spines that are not in contact with a presynaptic terminal. These impairments are likely contributing to the behavioral deficits in the MIA exposed offspring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Gurudutt
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pendyala
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska -Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Shinnyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Yoosun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Pierluca
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Spartz
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Ragunathan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Padmashri
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska -Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunaevsky
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D013569:Synapses / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C092370:Cbln1 protein, mouse; D016207:Cytokines; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D011498:Protein Precursors; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; C107913:glutamate receptor delta 2