Viral Infection and Abnormal Brain Development: A DNA Microarray Study

Maternal viral infection is known to increase the risk for schizophrenia and autism in their offspring (Brown et al, 2004). C57BL/6 mice were infected with human influenza virus on day E18 of pregnancy and brains were collected at PN days 0, 14, or 56, from virally‐exposed (N=3) or sham‐infected control's (N=3) offspring. Microarray analysis of virally‐exposed mouse brains showed significant (p<0.05) upregulation of 15 genes and downregulation of 3 genes in cerebellum, upregulation of 42 genes and downregulation of 9 genes in hippocampus, and upregulation of 4 genes and downregulation of 5 genes in prefrontal cortex vs. controls in day 0 mice. At day 14, there was a significant upregulation of 2 genes and downregulation of 0 genes in cerebellum, upregulation of 1 gene and downregulation of 1 gene in hippocampus, and upregulation of 3 genes and downregulation of 3 genes in prefrontal cortex vs. controls. At day 56, there was a significant upregulation of 13 genes and downregulation of 2 genes in cerebellum, upregulation of 4 genes and downregulation of 3 genes in hippocampus, and upregulation of 4 genes and downregulation of 1 gene in prefrontal cortex vs. controls. Implications of changes in brain genes for development of abnormal brain structure and function will be discussed. The generous support by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (1‐R01‐ HD046589 ‐01A2) to S.H.F. is greatly appreciated.