Academic literature on the topic 'Immune reponse/fetal effects'

This chapter reviews pregnancy in multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and acute transverse myelitis (ATM) syndrome. MS is a major acquired disease of young adults, with a rising female predominance. MS has no direct negative consequences on fertility or pregnancy. Pregnancy has a profound effect on MS, with decrease in disease activity during the last trimester counteracted by a three-month postpartum increase in disease activity. With the development of disease-modifying therapies, important questions arise about washout periods, the feasibility and risks

Vitamin D, which is synthesized in skin exposed to UV light, or is consumed in the diet, plays a key role in maintaining bone integrity via the regulation of calcium and phosphorus homeostasis. It also influences a number of extra-skeletal processes, including immune function and blood glucose homeostasis. Maternal vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy leads to poor fetal skeletal mineralization in utero that can manifest as rickets in newborns. In addition to skeletal effects, women with very low vitamin D status face increased risks of other adverse pregnancy outcomes and possible long-term effe

This chapter looks at the fetal effects of maternal infection. Immunity is mildly suppressed in pregnancy, and the fetal immune system is developmentally immature. Infections in pregnancy can therefore be devastating both for the mother, as is occasionally seen with varicella, and for the fetus, as exemplified by congenital infections such as those caused by rubella, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and toxoplasmosis. The fetal effects of maternal infection in pregnancy can be broadly categorized as follows (these are not mutually exclusive): transplacental infection causing fetal malformation (e.g. treponema pallidum, rubella); transplacental infection causing severe in utero illness (e.g. parvovirus); neonatal infection/carrier status as a result of transplacental or intrapartum infection (e.g. HIV, herpes zoster); such neonatal infection may be severe; preterm delivery, late miscarriage, perinatal death, and cerebral palsy at term delivery are more common in the presence of in utero and placental infection (chorioamnionitis) (e.g. group B streptococcus).

Zika virus (ZIKV), an arthropod-borne flavivirus, was classified as reemerging infectious disease and included as neglected tropical disease. During the recent ZIKV outbreak in South America, it has been demonstrated that ZIKV infection during pregnancy is strongly associated with fetal loss, malformations and neurological disorders in newborns. Despite the first line of host immune defense is related to innate immunity activation, the immunological homeostasis is essential for pregnancy success. Although the dynamic changes in maternal-fetal immunity is not completely understood and poorly investigated, the knowledge of immune responses during gestation is very important for infectious disease prevention and control, as ZIKV. Here, we put together more and new information about the innate immunity during gestation, highlighting three parts probably involved with clinical outcome and/or not well explored in literature: 1) type III interferon; 2) innate regulatory cells; and 3) cell death pathways modulation. Additionally, we will be focused on discussing how the dynamic responses of innate immune system during pregnancy and its effects in newborns, could be modulated by ZIKV, as well as how efforts on development of new/old drugs and vaccines could be effective for ZIKV prevention and control to provide a successful pregnancy.