An Italian work, carried out by scholars of the neuroscience institute of the National Research Council (In- Cnr) and of the Humanitas hospital in Milan, published in "Biological Psychiatry", shed light on some molecular mechanisms responsible for developmental defects. the brain of the unborn child as a result of activation of the maternal immune system.
Michela Matteoli, director of the In-Cnr and head of the Humanitas Neuro Center explains that "the association between maternal infections during pregnancy and defects in the neurodevelopment of the unborn child has long been known, but the molecular mechanisms underlying this process are not yet clear ". In the study on mouse models, using an agent that mimics a viral infection, it has been shown that a single activation of the maternal immune system, in the early stages of pregnancy, makes the offspring more susceptible to the onset of epileptic seizures.
"The main novelty of the work is the demonstration that this effect is mediated by an imbalance of the expression of two proteins, Nkcc1 and Kcc2", says the expert. An imbalance in the expression of these proteins prevents the Gaba neurotransmitter from acquiring its physiological inhibitory action. Excessive neuronal excitation, caused by the absence of the inhibitory brake of the Gaba, generates anomalies in the nervous system, as occurs in epilepsy and in other neurodevelopmental diseases ".
Davide Pozzi, researcher at Humanitas University and co-author of the study adds: "Our work shows that an imbalance in the expression of the two proteins can be caused by the increase of inflammatory cytokines that occurs in the fetal brain as a result of maternal infection". A possible therapy has been experimented within the study. "Pre-treatment of the mother with magnesium sulfate, which blocks the increase of inflammatory cytokines in the fetal brain following activation of the maternal immune system, prevents the deleterious effects of infection".
The director of the In-Cnr states that the data are very encouraging, although to confirm unequivocally the usefulness of this therapy studies are necessary on pregnant women.