COVID-19 in pregnancy: implications for fetal brain development

Lydia L Shook; Elinor L Sullivan; Jamie O Lo; Roy H Perlis; Andrea G Edlow

doi:10.1016/j.molmed.2022.02.004

COVID-19 in pregnancy: implications for fetal brain development

Trends Mol Med. 2022 Apr;28(4):319-330. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.02.004. Epub 2022 Feb 14.

Authors

Lydia L Shook¹, Elinor L Sullivan², Jamie O Lo³, Roy H Perlis⁴, Andrea G Edlow⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
² Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
³ Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Department of Urology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Center, Beaverton, OR, USA.
⁴ Center for Quantitative Health, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
⁵ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: AEDLOW@MGH.HARVARD.EDU.

Abstract

The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during pregnancy on the developing fetal brain is poorly understood. Other antenatal infections such as influenza have been associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. Although vertical transmission has been rarely observed in SARS-CoV-2 to date, given the potential for profound maternal immune activation (MIA), impact on the developing fetal brain is likely. Here we review evidence that SARS-CoV-2 and other viral infections during pregnancy can result in maternal, placental, and fetal immune activation, and ultimately in offspring neurodevelopmental morbidity. Finally, we highlight the need for cellular models of fetal brain development to better understand potential short- and long-term impacts of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the next generation.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; fetal brain; neurodevelopment; placenta; pregnancy.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Brain
COVID-19*
Female
Humans
Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical
Placenta
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
SARS-CoV-2

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding