biostudies-literatureBen-Yehuda HEuropean Research CouncilIsrael Science Foundation (ISF)1050-1067https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7192855biostudies-literatureUnknown25(5)Viral infection during pregnancy is often associated with neuropsychiatric conditions. In mice, exposure of pregnant dams to the viral mimetic poly(I:C), serves as a model that simulates such pathology in the offspring, through a process known as Maternal Immune Activation (MIA). To investigate the mechanism of such effect, we hypothesized that maternal upregulation of Type-I interferon (IFN-I), as part of the dam's antiviral response, might contribute to the damage imposed on the offspring. Using mRNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses we found that poly(I:C) treatment during pregnancy caused reduced expression of genes related to proliferation and cell cycle in the offspring's microglia relative to controls. This was found to be associated with an IFN-I signature in the embryonic yolMolecular psychiatryMaternal Type-I interferon signaling adversely affects the microglia and the behavior of the offspring accompanied by increased sensitivity to stress.PMC71928551354/15741744991/16Ben-Yehuda HPrinz MMatcovitch-Natan OKertser ASchwartz MAmit ISpinrad AfalseMaternal Type-I interferon signaling adversely affects the microglia and the behavior of the offspring accompanied by increased sensitivity to stress.Viral infection during pregnancy is often associated with neuropsychiatric conditions. In mice, exposure of pregnant dams to the viral mimetic poly(I:C), serves as a model that simulates such pathology in the offspring, through a process known as Maternal Immune Activation (MIA). To investigate the mechanism of such effect, we hypothesized that maternal upregulation of Type-I interferon (IFN-I), as part of the dam's antiviral response, might contribute to the damage imposed on the offspring. Using mRNA sequencing and flow cytometry analyses we found that poly(I:C) treatment during pregnancy caused reduced expression of genes related to proliferation and cell cycle in the offspring's microglia relative to controls. This was found to be associated with an IFN-I signature in the embryonic yol2020-01-01T00:00:00Z2020 May2025-04-22T06:28:13.669Z2020-05-22T19:13:57ZS-EPMC71928553177230410.1038/s41380-019-0604-0