Maternal immune activation: Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders

Abstract

Epidemiological evidence implicates maternal infection as a risk factor for autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia. Animal models corroborate this link and demonstrate that maternal immune activation (MIA) alone is sufficient to impart lifelong neuropathology and altered behaviors in offspring.ThisReviewdescribes commonprinciples revealed by these models, highlighting recent findings that strengthen their relevance for schizophrenia and autism and are starting to reveal themolecularmechanisms underlying the effects of MIAon offspring.The role ofMIAas a primer for a much wider range of psychiatric and neurologic disorders is also discussed. Finally, the need for more research in this nascent field and the implications for identifying and developing new treatments for individuals at heightened risk for neuroimmune disorders are considered.