Prenatal programming of the innate immune response following in utero exposure to inflammation: a sexually dimorphic process?

Abstract

Maternal infection and inflammation are common events during pregnancy. This article documents evidence that suggests such inflammation compromises the development of the fetal innate immune response, in support of an in utero origins hypothesis of neonatal and childhood inflammatory disease. The potential for this response to exhibit sex specificity is also explored, based on evidence of sexually dimorphic placental responses to maternal inflammation.

Keywords::

• fetal
• fetal origins of disease
• in utero
• inflammation
• maternal inflammation
• neonate
• prenatal programming

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Nicolette A Hodyl is funded by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Australian Biomedical (Training) Fellowship (ID 1016379). Michael J Stark is funded by an NHMRC Health Professional (Training) Fellowship (ID 565512). Vicki L Clifton is funded by an NHMRC Senior Fellowship (ID 510703). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.