High-dimensional mediation analysis to elucidate the role of metabolites in the association between PFAS exposure and reduced SARS-CoV-2 IgG in pregnancy.

Objective: We previously found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixture exposure is inversely associated with SARS-CoV-2 IgG (IgG) antibody levels in pregnant individuals. Here, we aim to identify metabolites mediating this relationship to elucidate the underlying biological pathways.

Methods: We included 59 pregnant participants from a US-based pregnancy cohort.

SARS-CoV-2 infection, inflammation and birth outcomes in a prospective NYC pregnancy cohort.

Associations between antenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and pregnancy outcomes have been conflicting and the role of the immune system is currently unclear. This prospective cohort study investigated the interaction of antenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection, changes in cytokine and HS-CRP levels, birthweight and gestational age at birth. 2352 pregnant participants from New York City (2020-2022) were included.

A pharmacological toolkit for human microglia identifies Topoisomerase I inhibitors as immunomodulators for Alzheimer's disease.

While efforts to identify microglial subtypes have recently accelerated, the relation of transcriptomically defined states to function has been largely limited to annotations. Here, we characterize a set of pharmacological compounds that have been proposed to polarize human microglia towards two distinct states - one enriched for AD and MS genes and another characterized by increased expression of antigen presentation genes. Using different model systems including HMC3 cells, iPSC-derived microglia and cerebral organoids, we characterize the effect of these compounds in mimicking human microglial subtypes .

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Antibody Titer Levels in Pregnant Individuals After Infection, Vaccination, or Both.

We examined differences in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody responses in pregnant individuals with natural, vaccine-induced, or combined immunity. Participants had live or nonlive births between 2020 and 2022, were seropositive (SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, anti-S), and had available mRNA vaccination and infection information (n=260). We compared titer levels among three immunity profiles: 1) natural immunity (n=191), 2) vaccine-induced immunity (n=37), and 3) combined immunity (ie, natural and vaccine-induced immunity; n=32).

The association between inflammatory markers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Neuroinflammatory processes have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of psychiatric and neurological diseases. Studies on this topic often rely on analysis of inflammatory biomarkers in peripheral blood. Unfortunately, the extent to which these peripheral markers reflect inflammatory processes in the central nervous system (CNS) is unclear.

Cross-sectional associations of maternal PFAS exposure on SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody levels during pregnancy.

Background: Perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) are man-made, persistent organic compounds with immune-modulating potentials. Given that pregnancy itself represents an altered state of immunity, PFAS exposure-related immunotoxicity is an important environmental factor to consider in SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy as it may further affect humoral immune responses.

Aim: To investigate the relationship between maternal plasma PFAS concentrations and SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in a NYC-based pregnancy cohort.

Impact of prenatal COVID-19 vaccination on delivery and neonatal outcomes: Results from a New York City cohort.

Research suggest prenatal vaccination against coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is safe. However, previous studies utilized retrospectively collected data or examined late pregnancy vaccinations. We investigated the associations of COVID-19 vaccination throughout pregnancy with delivery and neonatal outcomes.

Effects of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection on obstetric outcomes: Results from a prospective cohort in the Netherlands.

Results of a large prospective pregnancy cohort in the Netherlands show no association of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection prior to 28 weeks of gestation with adverse obstetric outcomes.

Gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with placental expression of immune and trophoblast genes.

Introduction: Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes and can have effects on the placenta, even in the absence of severe disease or vertical transmission to the fetus. This study aimed to evaluate histopathologic and molecular effects in the placenta after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.

Methods: We performed a study of 45 pregnant participants from the Generation C prospective cohort study at the Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.

CSF-1 controls cerebellar microglia and is required for motor function and social interaction.

Microglia, the brain resident macrophages, critically shape forebrain neuronal circuits. However, their precise function in the cerebellum is unknown. Here we show that human and mouse cerebellar microglia express a unique molecular program distinct from forebrain microglia.