How a mother's immune response changes brain sugar chains in developing offspring
Maternal immune activation remodeling of offspring glycosaminoglycan sulfation patterns during neurodevelopment
Looks at how a mother's immune reactions during pregnancy or early life change sugar-chain patterns in the developing brain of offspring, which may help explain risks for autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146485 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work studies how maternal immune activation (when a mother's immune system is triggered by infection or environmental factors) can alter chondroitin and dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan (GAG) sulfation patterns that shape brain development. Researchers use precise tissue capture and mass spectrometry methods on mouse and non-human primate brains to map GAG sulfation across regions like the hippocampus and cortex. They compare developmental timing and regional differences to see how changes in these extracellular matrix molecules could lead to altered brain circuits and behaviors linked to autism. Although the work is preclinical, the goal is to reveal molecular changes that could inform future biomarkers or therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This grant does not enroll patients directly; it focuses on animal and tissue studies related to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatments or pregnant people hoping for an intervention should not expect direct benefit from this laboratory-focused research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify molecular changes caused by maternal immune activation that point to early biomarkers or targets for future treatments for autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have previously linked maternal immune activation to autism-like behaviors, but using high-resolution glycosaminoglycan sulfation mapping across brain regions is a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alonge, Kimberly Michele — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Alonge, Kimberly Michele
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.