Understanding the role of maternal IgG antibodies in fetal brain development

Objetivo temático: This project aims to explore the physiological role of maternal antibodies in the offspring’s neurodevelopment. Findings of the project can open up a new and exciting field of research into the role of maternal antibodies in fetal programming. This will not only bring novel information on the physiological processes of brain development, but will also increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders.

Área Científica: Maternal antibodies, neurodevelopment, immunology, fetus

Síntese do Projeto: The early development of the brain is a complex process, involving the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. This is particularly critical during the fetal period. Events during pregnancy may cause permanent effects on the fetus and the infant long after birth, a concept known as fetal programming. Accordingly, intrauterine environmental insults, including aberrant maternal immune factors, correlate with higher incidence of adverse neurodevelopmental and mental health outcomes in the offspring. There is a strong body of evidence from epidemiological studies and animal models linking maternal immune-dysfunction to increased risk of several neuropsychiatric disorders in the progeny, such as schizophrenia, autism and depression.

To date, research on how the maternal immune system modulates early brain development has focused on the activation of immune mediators during infection or on the relevance of maternal pathogenic antibodies. Whether and how maternal antibodies shape the offspring’s brain in normal development is unknown.

Área de intervenção: Neurodevelopmental disorders

Investigador Responsável na UC: Maria Ester Freitas Barbosa Pereira Coutinho

Unidade Orgânica UC: Reitoria, CNC-UC

Instituições participantes no Projeto: Universidade de Coimbra (Instituição Proponente)

Instituição Financiadora/Gestora: Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRF)

Programa de Financiamento: 2022 BBRF Young Investigator Grant

Período de execução: 15/01/2023 a 14/01/2025 (24 meses)

Custo total elegível (EUR): $69,997.00 USD

Técnico do Projeto: Heidi Maria da Silva Lopes Gonçalves | heidi.goncalves@uc.pt

Contacto: 239247017