Mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 in unvaccinated pregnant mothers impairs neonatal immune responses.

ABSTRACT: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers placental inflammation and alters cord blood immune cell composition. However, most studies focus on outcomes of severe maternal infection. Therefore, we analyzed cord blood and chorionic villi from newborns of unvaccinated mothers who experienced mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. We investigated immune cell rewiring using flow cytometry, single-cell RNA sequencing, and functional readouts using ex vivo stimulation with TLR agonists and pathogens. Maternal infection was associated with increased frequency of memory T and B cells and nonclassical monocytes in cord blood. Ex vivo T and B cell responses to stimulation were attenuated, suggesting a tolerogenic state. Maladaptive responses were also observed in cord blood monocytes,

SUBMITTER: Doratt BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10629812 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature