Table 1 Effects of Prenatal exposures of SARS-CoV-2, HIV, and Influenza on fetal development and long-term immunity
From: Mechanistic insights into the impact of prenatal viral infections on maternal and offspring immunity
Virus | Maternal-Fetal Effects | Placental / Fetal Immune Changes | Long-Term Consequences in Offspring |
|---|---|---|---|
SARS-CoV-2 | Acute infection; severity-dependent systemic inflammation; occasional placental vascular injury | Elevated interferons, cytokine signaling; altered trophoblast function; immune imprinting in fetal immune cells | Altered T cell polarization, trained immunity, increased susceptibility to infections, potential neurodevelopmental risks |
HIV | Chronic infection; persistent maternal immune activation; effects modified by ART | Sustained inflammation; altered cytokine milieu; skewed T cell development; placental barrier modulation | Immune dysregulation, altered T cell and innate immune responses, increased infection susceptibility, potential metabolic and neurodevelopmental effects |
Influenza | Acute infection; fever and systemic inflammation; timing-dependent severity | Maternal cytokine surge; placental inflammation; changes in fetal immune cell differentiation | Skewed T cell responses, altered innate immunity, increased infection susceptibility, possible long-term inflammatory or neurodevelopmental effects |
