Transcriptomic and morphological maturation of human astrocytes in cerebral organoids.

Cerebral organoids (CerOrgs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a valuable tool to study human astrocytes and their interaction with neurons and microglia. The timeline of astrocyte development and maturation in this model is currently unknown and this limits the value and applicability of the model. Therefore, we generated CerOrgs from three healthy individuals and assessed astrocyte maturation after 5, 11, 19, and 37 weeks in culture. At these four time points, the astrocyte lineage was isolated based on the expression of integrin subunit alpha 6 (ITGA6). Based on the transcriptome of the isolated ITGA6-positive cells, astrocyte development started between 5 and 11 weeks in culture and astrocyte maturation commenced after 11 weeks in culture. After 19 weeks in culture, the ITGA6-positive astrocytes had the highest expression of human mature astrocyte genes, and the predicted functional properties were related to brain homeostasis. After 37 weeks in culture, a subpopulation of ITGA6-negative astrocytes appeared, highlighting the heterogeneity within the astrocytes. The morphology shifted from an elongated progenitor-like morphology to the typical bushy astrocyte morphology. Based on the morphological properties, predicted functional properties, and the similarities with the human mature astrocyte transcriptome, we concluded that ITGA6-positive astrocytes have developed optimally in 19-week-old CerOrgs.

Characterization of HIV variants from paired Cerebrospinal fluid and Plasma samples in primary microglia and CD4+ T-cells.

Despite antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV persistence in the central nervous system (CNS) continues to cause a range of cognitive impairments in people living with HIV (PLWH). Upon disease progression, transmigrating CCR5-using T-cell tropic viruses are hypothesized to evolve into macrophage-tropic viruses in the CNS that can efficiently infect low CD4-expressing cells, such as microglia. We examined HIV-1 RNA concentration, co-receptor usage, and CSF compartmentalization in paired CSF and blood samples from 19 adults not on treatment. Full-length envelope CSF- and plasma-derived reporter viruses were generated from 3 subjects and phenotypically characterized in human primary CD4+ T-cells and primary microglia. Median HIV RNA levels were higher in plasma than in CSF (5.01 vs. 4.12 log10 cp/mL; p = 0.004), and coreceptor usage was mostly concordant for CCR5 across the paired samples (n = 17). Genetically compartmentalized CSF viral populations were detected in 2 subjects, one with and one without neurological symptoms. All viral clones could replicate in T-cells (R5 T cell-tropic). In addition, 3 CSF and 1 plasma patient-derived viral clones also had the capacity to replicate in microglia/macrophages and, therefore have an intermediate macrophage tropic phenotype. Overall, with this study, we demonstrate that in a subset of PLWH, plasma-derived viruses undergo genetic and phenotypic evolution within the CNS, indicating viral infection and replication in CNS cells. It remains to be studied whether the intermediate macrophage-tropic phenotype observed in primary microglia represents a midpoint in the evolution towards a macrophage-tropic phenotype that can efficiently replicate in microglial cells and propagate viral infection in the CNS.

Association between doxycycline use and long-term functioning in patients with schizophrenia.

IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: The brain-penetrant tetracycline antibiotics, minocycline and doxycycline, have been proposed as potential candidate drugs for treatment of schizophrenia, based on preclinical studies and clinical trials. A potential long-term beneficial effect of these antibiotics for schizophrenia patients has not been investigated. This study was designed to determine if redemption of doxycycline prescription in schizophrenia is associated with decreased incidence of disability pension, a proxy for long-term functioning. DESIGN: We performed a population-based cohort study with data from schizophrenia patients available through the Danish registers. Survival analysis models with time-varying covariates were constructed to assess incidence rate ratios (IRR) of disability pension after exposure to doxycycline or a non-brain penetrant tetracycline, defined as at least one filled prescription. The analysis was adjusted for age, sex, calendar year, parental psychiatric status and educational level. RESULTS: We used data from 11,157 individuals with schizophrenia (4,945 female and 6,212 male; average age 22.4 years old, standard deviation (std) 4.50). 718 of these were exposed to brain-penetrant doxycycline, and 1,498 individuals redeemed a prescription of one or more of the non-brain-penetrant tetracyclines. The average years at risk per person in this cohort was 4.9, and 2,901 individuals received disability pension in the follow-up period. There was a significantly lower incidence rate of disability pension in schizophrenia patients who had redeemed doxycycline compared to patients who did not redeem a prescription of any tetracycline antibiotics (Incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.68; 95 % CI 0.56, 0.83). There was also a significant lower rate of disability pension in schizophrenia patients who redeemed doxycycline compared to individuals who redeemed a prescription of one of the non-brain penetrant tetracycline antibiotics (IRR 0.69 95 % CI 0.55, 0.87). CONCLUSIONS: In this observational study, doxycycline exposure is associated with a reduced incidence of disability pension. These data support further studies on the potential long term neuroprotective effects of doxycycline and level of functioning in schizophrenia patients.

A microglia-containing cerebral organoid model to study early life immune challenges.

Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs. How the maternal as well as the fetal immune system affect human neurodevelopment and contribute to NDDs remains unclear. An important reason for this knowledge gap is the fact that the impact of exposure to prenatal risk factors has been challenging to study in the human context. Here, we characterized a model of cerebral organoids (CO) with integrated microglia (COiMg). These organoids express typical microglial markers and respond to inflammatory stimuli. The presence of microglia influences cerebral organoid development, including cell density and neural differentiation, and regulates the expression of several ciliated and mesenchymal cell markers. Moreover, COiMg and organoids without microglia show similar but also distinct responses to inflammatory stimuli. Additionally, IFN-γ induced significant transcriptional and structural changes in the cerebral organoids, that appear to be regulated by the presence of microglia. Specifically, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was found to alter the expression of genes linked to autism. This model provides a valuable tool to study how inflammatory perturbations and microglial presence affect neurodevelopmental processes.

Gene expression profiling of monocytes in recent-onset schizophrenia.

Immune-related mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in schizophrenia. Various studies have shown changes in monocytes isolated from the blood of schizophrenia patients, including changes in monocyte numbers, as well as altered protein and transcript levels of important markers. However, validation of these findings and understanding how these results are related to immune-related changes in the brain and schizophrenia genetic risk factors, is limited. The goal of this study was to better understand changes observed in monocytes of patients with early-onset schizophrenia. Using RNA sequencing, we analyzed gene expression profiles of monocytes isolated from twenty patients with early-onset schizophrenia and seventeen healthy controls. We validated expression changes of 7 out of 29 genes that were differentially expressed in previous studies including TNFAIP3, DUSP2, and IL6. At a transcriptome-wide level, we found 99 differentially expressed genes. Effect sizes of differentially expressed genes were moderately correlated with differential expression in brain tissue (Pearson's r = 0.49). Upregulated genes were enriched for genes in NF-κB and LPS signaling pathways. Downregulated genes were enriched for glucocorticoid response pathways. These pathways have been implicated in schizophrenia before and play a role in regulating the activation of myeloid cells. Interestingly, they are also involved in several non-inflammatory processes in the central nervous system, such as neurogenesis and neurotransmission. Future studies are needed to better understand how dysregulation of the NF-κB and glucocorticoid pathways affects inflammatory and non-inflammatory processes in schizophrenia. The fact that dysregulation of these pathways is also seen in brain tissue, provides potential possibilities for biomarker development.

Human microglial models to study HIV infection and neuropathogenesis: a literature overview and comparative analyses.

HIV persistence in the CNS despite antiretroviral therapy may cause neurological disorders and poses a critical challenge for HIV cure. Understanding the pathobiology of HIV-infected microglia, the main viral CNS reservoir, is imperative. Here, we provide a comprehensive comparison of human microglial culture models: cultured primary microglia (pMG), microglial cell lines, monocyte-derived microglia (MDMi), stem cell-derived microglia (iPSC-MG), and microglia grown in 3D cerebral organoids (oMG) as potential model systems to advance HIV research on microglia. Functional characterization revealed phagocytic capabilities and responsiveness to LPS across all models. Microglial transcriptome profiles of uncultured pMG showed the highest similarity to cultured pMG and oMG, followed by iPSC-MG and then MDMi. Direct comparison of HIV infection showed a striking difference, with high levels of viral replication in cultured pMG and MDMi and relatively low levels in oMG resembling HIV infection observed in post-mortem biopsies, while the SV40 and HMC3 cell lines did not support HIV infection. Altogether, based on transcriptional similarities to uncultured pMG and susceptibility to HIV infection, MDMi may serve as a first screening tool, whereas oMG, cultured pMG, and iPSC-MG provide more representative microglial culture models for HIV research. The use of current human microglial cell lines (SV40, HMC3) is not recommended.

Transcriptomic and functional analysis of Aß1-42 oligomer-stimulated human monocyte-derived microglia-like cells.

Dysregulation of microglial function contributes to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Several genetic and transcriptome studies have revealed microglia specific genetic risk factors, and changes in microglia expression profiles in AD pathogenesis, viz. the human-Alzheimer's microglia/myeloid (HAM) profile in AD patients and the disease-associated microglia profile (DAM) in AD mouse models. The transcriptional changes involve genes in immune and inflammatory pathways, and in pathways associated with Aß clearance. Aß oligomers have been suggested to be the initial trigger of microglia activation in AD. To study the direct response to Aß oligomers exposure, we assessed changes in gene expression in an in vitro model for microglia, the human monocyte-derived microglial-like (MDMi) cells. We confirmed the initiation of an inflammatory profile following LPS stimulation, based on increased expression of IL1B, IL6, and TNFα. In contrast, the Aß1-42 oligomers did not induce an inflammatory profile or a classical HAM profile. Interestingly, we observed a specific increase in the expression of metallothioneins in the Aß1-42 oligomer treated MDMi cells. Metallothioneins are involved in metal ion regulation, protection against reactive oxygen species, and have anti-inflammatory properties. In conclusion, our data suggests that exposure to Aß1-42 oligomers may initially trigger a protective response in vitro.

Distinct non-inflammatory signature of microglia in post-mortem brain tissue of patients with major depressive disorder.

Findings from epidemiological studies, biomarker measurements and animal experiments suggest a role for aberrant immune processes in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder (MDD). Microglia, the resident immune cells of the brain, are likely to play a key role in these processes. Previous post-mortem studies reported conflicting findings regarding microglial activation and an in-depth profiling of those cells in MDD is lacking. The aim of this study was therefore to characterize the phenotype and function of microglia in MDD. We isolated microglia from post-mortem brain tissue of patients with MDD (n = 13-19) and control donors (n = 12-25). Using flow cytometry and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR), we measured protein and mRNA levels of a panel of microglial markers across four different brain regions (medial frontal gyrus, superior temporal gyrus, thalamus, and subventricular zone). In MDD cases, we found a significant upregulation of CX3CR1 and TMEM119 mRNA expression and a downregulation of CD163 mRNA expression and CD14 protein expression across the four brain regions. Expression levels of microglial activation markers, such as HLA-DRA, IL6, and IL1ß, as well as the inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide and dexamethasone were unchanged. Our findings suggest that microglia enhance homeostatic functions in MDD but are not immune activated.

A loss of mature microglial markers without immune activation in schizophrenia.

Microglia, the immune cells of the brain, are important for neurodevelopment and have been hypothesized to play a role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia (SCZ). Although previous postmortem studies pointed toward presence of microglial activation, this view has been challenged by more recent hypothesis-driven and hypothesis-free analyses. The aim of the present study is to further understand the observed microglial changes in SCZ. We first performed a detailed meta-analysis on studies that analyzed microglial cell density, microglial morphology, and expression of microglial-specific markers. We then further explored findings from the temporal cortex by performing immunostainings and qPCRs on an additional dataset. A random effect meta-analysis showed that the density of microglial cells was unaltered in SCZ (ES: 0.144 95% CI: 0.102 to 0.390, p = .250), and clear changes in microglial morphology were also absent. The expression of several microglial specific genes, such as CX3CR1, CSF1R, IRF8, OLR1, and TMEM119 was decreased in SCZ (ES: -0.417 95% CI: -0.417 to -0.546, p < .0001), consistent with genome-wide transcriptome meta-analysis results. These results indicate a change in microglial phenotype rather than density, which was validated with the use of TMEM119/Iba1 immunostainings on temporal cortex of a separate cohort. Changes in microglial gene expression were overlapping between SCZ and other psychiatric disorders, but largely opposite from changes reported in Alzheimer's disease. This distinct microglial phenotype provides a crucial molecular hallmark for future research into the role of microglia in SCZ and other psychiatric disorders.

A characterization of the molecular phenotype and inflammatory response of schizophrenia patient-derived microglia-like cells.

Different lines of evidence support a causal role for microglia in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. However, how schizophrenia patient-derived microglia are affected at the phenotypic and functional level is still largely unknown. We used a recently described model to induce patient-derived microglia-like cells and used this to analyze changes in the molecular phenotype and function of myeloid cells in schizophrenia. We isolated monocytes from twenty recent-onset schizophrenia patients and twenty non-psychiatric controls. We cultured the cells towards an induced microglia-like phenotype (iMG), analyzed the phenotype of the cells by RNA sequencing and mass cytometry, and their response to LPS. Mass cytometry showed a high heterogeneity of iMG in cells derived from patients as well as controls. The prevalence of two iMG clusters was significantly higher in schizophrenia patients (adjusted p-value < 0.001). These subsets are characterized by expression of ApoE, Ccr2, CD18, CD44, and CD95, as well as IRF8, P2Y12, Cx3cr1 and HLA-DR. In addition, we found that patient-derived iMG show an enhanced response to LPS, with increased secretion of TNF-α. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings, to determine whether similar subclusters are present in schizophrenia patients in vivo, and to address how these subclusters are related to the increased response to LPS, as well as other microglial functions.

Cannabinoids and psychotic symptoms: A potential role for a genetic variant in the P2X purinoceptor 7 (P2RX7) gene.

To investigate the biological mechanisms underlying the higher risk for psychosis in those that use cannabis, we conducted a genome-wide environment-interaction study (GWEIS). In a sample of individuals without a psychiatric disorder (N = 1262), we analyzed the interactions between regular cannabis use and genotype with psychotic-like experiences (PLE) as outcome. PLE were measured using the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE). The sample was enriched for those at the extremes of both cannabis use and PLE to increase power. A single nucleotide polymorphism in the P2RX7 gene (rs7958311) was associated with risk for a high level of psychotic experiences in regular cannabis users (p = 1.10 x10-7) and in those with high levels of lifetime cannabis use (p = 4.5 × 10-6). This interaction was replicated in individuals with high levels of lifetime cannabis use in the IMAGEN cohort (N = 1217, p = 0.020). Functional relevance of P2RX7 in cannabis users was suggested by in vitro experiments on activated monocytes. Exposure of these cells to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) reduced the immunological response of the P2X7 receptor, which was dependent on the identified genetic variant. P2RX7 variants have been implicated in psychiatric disorders before and the P2X7 receptor is involved in pathways relevant to psychosis, such as neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity and immune regulation. We conclude that P2RX7 plays a role in vulnerability to develop psychotic symptoms when using cannabis and point to a new pathway that can potentially be targeted by newly developed P2X7 antagonists.

B-cells and schizophrenia: A promising link or a finding lost in translation?

Recent genetic studies have suggested a potential role for B-cells in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Greater insight in the functioning of B-cells in patients with schizophrenia is therefore of importance. In this narrative review we aim to give an overview of the current literature on B-cells and schizophrenia. We found no evidence for altered numbers of these cells in blood. We did find support for increased levels of B-cell related cytokines and certain autoantibodies. Studies on B-cell development and function, or their numbers in cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue are very limited. Based on the available data we appraise whether various B-cell mediated pathological mechanisms are likely to play a role in schizophrenia and provide directions for future research.

Glioblastoma-derived extracellular vesicles modify the phenotype of monocytic cells.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor and is without exception lethal. GBMs modify the immune system, which contributes to the aggressive nature of the disease. Particularly, cells of the monocytic lineage, including monocytes, macrophages and microglia, are affected. We investigated the influence of GBM-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) on the phenotype of monocytic cells. Proteomic profiling showed GBM EVs to be enriched with proteins functioning in extracellular matrix interaction and leukocyte migration. GBM EVs appeared to skew the differentiation of peripheral blood-derived monocytes to alternatively activated/M2-type macrophages. This was observed for EVs from an established cell line, as well as for EVs from primary cultures of GBM stem-like cells (GSCs). Unlike EVs of non-GBM origin, GBM EVs induced modified expression of cell surface proteins, modified cytokine secretion (e.g., an increase in vascular endothelial growth factor and IL-6) and increased phagocytic capacity of the macrophages. Most pronounced effects were observed upon incubation with EVs from mesenchymal GSCs. GSC EVs also affected primary human microglia, resulting in increased expression of Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase, a marker for GBM microglia and functioning as tumor-supportive factor. In conclusion, GBM-derived EVs can modify cells of the monocytic lineage, which acquire characteristics that resemble the tumor-supportive phenotypes observed in patients.

Emerging Models to Study Human Microglia In vitro.

New in vitro models provide an exciting opportunity to study live human microglia. Previously, a major limitation in understanding human microglia in health and disease has been their limited availability. Here, we provide an overview of methods to obtain human stem cell or blood monocyte-derived microglia-like cells that provide a nearly unlimited source of live human microglia for research. We address how understanding microglial ontogeny can help modeling microglial identity and function in a dish with increased accuracy. Moreover, we categorize stem cell-derived differentiation methods into embryoid body based, growth factor driven, and coculture-driven approaches, and review novel viral approaches to reprogram stem cells directly into microglia-like cells. Furthermore, we review typical readouts used in the field to verify microglial identity and characterize functional microglial phenotypes. We provide an overview of methods used to study microglia in environments more closely resembling the (developing) human CNS, such as cocultures and brain organoid systems with incorporated or innately developing microglia. We highlight how microglia-like cells can be utilized to reveal molecular and functional mechanisms in human disease context, focusing on Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases as well as neurodevelopmental diseases. Finally, we provide a critical overview of challenges and future opportunities to more accurately model human microglia in a dish and conclude that novel in vitro microglia-like cells provide an exciting potential to bring preclinical research of microglia to a new era.

Exploring peripheral biomarkers of response to simvastatin supplementation in schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating mental disorders, and its diagnosis and treatment present significant challenges. Several clinical trials have previously evaluated the effectiveness of simvastatin, a lipid-lowering medication, as a novel add-on treatment for schizophrenia. However, treatment effects varied highly between patients and over time. In the present study, we aimed to identify biomarkers of response to simvastatin in recent-onset schizophrenia patients. To this end, we profiled relevant immune and metabolic markers in patient blood samples collected in a previous clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01999309) before simvastatin add-on treatment was initiated. Analysed sample types included serum, plasma, resting-state peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as well as PBMC samples treated ex vivo with immune stimulants and simvastatin. Associations between the blood readouts and clinical endpoints were evaluated using multivariable linear regression. This revealed that changes in insulin receptor (IR) levels induced in B-cells by ex vivo simvastatin treatment inversely correlated with in vivo effects on cognition at the primary endpoint of 12 months, as measured using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia scale total score (standardised ß ± SE = -0.75 ± 0.16, P = 2.2 × 10-4, Q = 0.029; n = 21 patients). This correlation was not observed in the placebo group (ß ± SE = 0.62 ± 0.39, P = 0.17, Q = 0.49; n = 14 patients). The candidate biomarker explained 53.4 % of the variation in cognitive outcomes after simvastatin supplementation. Despite the small sample size, these findings suggest a possible interaction between the insulin signalling pathway and cognitive effects during simvastatin therapy. They also point to opportunities for personalized schizophrenia treatment through patient stratification.

A microglia-containing cerebral organoid model to study early life immune challenges.

Prenatal infections and activation of the maternal immune system have been proposed to contribute to causing neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), chronic conditions often linked to brain abnormalities. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the brain and play a key role in neurodevelopment. Disruption of microglial functions can lead to brain abnormalities and increase the risk of developing NDDs. How the maternal as well as the fetal immune system affect human neurodevelopment and contribute to NDDs remains unclear. An important reason for this knowledge gap is the fact that the impact of exposure to prenatal risk factors has been challenging to study in the human context. Here, we characterized a model of cerebral organoids (CO) with integrated microglia (COiMg). These organoids express typical microglial markers and respond to inflammatory stimuli. The presence of microglia influences cerebral organoid development, including cell density and neural differentiation, and regulates the expression of several ciliated mesenchymal cell markers. Moreover, COiMg and organoids without microglia show similar but also distinct responses to inflammatory stimuli. Additionally, IFN-γ induced significant transcriptional and structural changes in the cerebral organoids, that appear to be regulated by the presence of microglia. Specifically, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was found to alter the expression of genes linked to autism. This model provides a valuable tool to study how inflammatory perturbations and microglial presence affect neurodevelopmental processes.

Increased postpartum anxiety symptoms after perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection in a large, prospective pregnancy cohort in New York City.

Numerous studies reported an increase of postpartum mood symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the link between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and perinatal mental health is less well understood. We investigated the associations between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and postpartum depressive and anxiety symptoms, including examinations of infection timing and pandemic timeline. We included 595 participants from Generation C, a prospective pregnancy cohort in New York City (2020-2022). Prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis. Depression and anxiety symptoms were measured 4-12 weeks postpartum using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD), respectively. Quantile regressions were conducted with prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection as exposure and continuously measured EPDS and GAD scores as outcomes. We reran the analyses in those with COVID-19-like symptoms in the trimester during which infection occurred. 120 (20.1%) participants had prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection. After adjusting for socio-demographic, obstetric and other maternal health factors, prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with higher median postpartum anxiety scores (b = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.15; 0.96). Late gestation infection (b = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.22; 2.09) and symptomatic infection (b = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.12; 2.18) were also associated with higher median postpartum anxiety scores. No associations were found with depressive symptoms. The associations were not moderated by time since the start of the pandemic. This study suggests that prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection increases the risk of postpartum anxiety symptoms among participants reporting median anxiety symptoms. Given that this association was not affected by pandemic timing and that SARS-CoV-2 transmission continues, individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy should be monitored for postpartum anxiety symptoms.

The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination on Th17 and regulatory T cells in a pregnancy cohort in NYC.

Disturbances in T-cells, specifically the Th17/Treg balance, have been implicated in adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated these two T-cell populations following pre-pregnancy and pregnancy SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in 351 participants from a pregnancy cohort in New York City (Generation C; 2020-2022). SARS-CoV-2 infection status was determined via laboratory or medical diagnosis and COVID-19 vaccination status via survey and electronic medical records data. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected at routine prenatal visits throughout gestation (median 108 days; IQR 67-191 days) with repeated measures for 104 participants (29.6%). T-cell populations CD4+/CD3+, Th17/CD4+, Treg/CD4+ and the Th17/Treg ratio were quantified using flow cytometry. Results showed that inter-individual differences are a main influencing factor in Th17 and Treg variance, however total variance explained remained small (R2 = 15-39%). Overall, Th17 and Treg populations were not significantly affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy in adjusted linear mixed models (p>0.05), however comparison of repeated measures among SARS-CoV-2 infected participants and non-infected controls suggests a relative increase of the Th17/Treg ratio following infection. In addition, the Th17/Treg ratio was significantly higher after SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to pregnancy (10-138 weeks) compared to controls (ß=0.48, p=0.003). COVID-19 vaccination was not associated with Th17 and Treg cells. Our findings suggest an impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the Th17/Treg ratio, likely depending on severity of infection, yet the observed trends and their potential consequences for pregnancy outcomes require further investigation. Our study contributes to growing evidence that COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy does not lead to an exacerbated immune response.

Clinical symptoms and psychosocial functioning in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders testing seropositive for anti-NMDAR antibodies: a case-control comparison with patients testing negative.

BACKGROUND: Antibodies against the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) have been described in the serum of people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (schizophrenia). However, the prevalence and clinical relevance of these antibodies in schizophrenia is unclear. This knowledge gap includes the possibility of such antibodies being associated with a distinct clinical profile, which in turn might warrant a distinct treatment approach. We aimed to assess the seroprevalence of anti-NMDAR antibodies in schizophrenia, and compare symptoms and psychosocial functioning between patients with schizophrenia who were seropositive and seronegative for these antibodies. METHODS: In this case-control comparison, by combining new and existing studies, we included patients diagnosed with schizophrenia from four independent cohorts for whom anti-NMDAR serostatus had been assessed (or could be assessed by us) with live cell-based assays. Included cohorts were from the EULAST study (a trial conducted across 15 European countries and Israel), the OPTiMiSE study (an interventional study in Europe), and the PPiP1 and PPiP2 studies (conducted in the UK). Patients from these cohorts were analysed if they had complete Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) data. No participant had been diagnosed with autoimmune encephalitis or received treatment for this condition. After calculating the prevalence of serum anti-NMDAR antibodies, we examined possible differences in PANSS scores (negative, positive, and general symptom subscales, and total score) between anti-NMDAR-seropositive and anti-NMDAR-seronegative patients. Psychosocial functioning as measured by Personal Social Performance (PSP) score was also compared. All analyses were exploratory and no adjustment was done for multiple testing. People with lived experience were not involved in the conduct of this study. FINDINGS: We collected individual patient data from 1114 patients with schizophrenia across the four cohorts. The study population had a mean age of 28·6 years (SD 7·6) and comprised 382 (34·3%) women and 732 (65·7%) men, including patients of White (929 [83·4%]), Asian (54 [4·8%]), Black (68 [6·1%]), and other (62 [5·6%]) ethnicities. Overall, 41 (3·7%) participants (range 3·1-4·0% across cohorts) tested positive for serum anti-NMDAR antibodies. Lower symptom severity on the negative symptoms PANSS subscale was observed for anti-NMDAR-seropositive patients (mean score 15·8 [SD 6·4]) than for anti-NMDAR-seronegative patients (18·2 [6·8]; Cohen's d=0·36; p=0·026), as well as on the general symptoms PANSS subscale (32·9 [8·9] vs 36·1 [10·1]; d=0·33; p=0·029) and total PANSS score (65·5 [18·5] vs 72·6 [19·3]; d=0·37; p=0·013). Mean PSP score was better in anti-NMDAR-positive patients (62·0 [17·0]) than in anti-NMDAR-negative patients (53·5 [16·3]; d=0·52; p=0·014). INTERPRETATION: Serum NMDAR antibodies are present in 3-4% of patients with schizophrenia and are associated with relatively low severity of negative symptoms and relatively good psychosocial functioning. Thus, although the findings await replication in cohorts from other geographical regions, serum anti-NMDAR antibodies might be associated with a different form of psychotic illness. These findings could inform future prognostic and interventional studies examining whether anti-NMDAR antibodies are associated with a specific course of illness or with treatment response. FUNDING: None.

Inflammatory markers in pregnancy - surprisingly stable. Mapping trajectories and drivers in four large cohorts.

Adaptations of the immune system throughout gestation have been proposed as important mechanisms regulating successful pregnancy. Dysregulation of the maternal immune system has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. To translate findings from mechanistic preclinical studies to human pregnancies, studies of serum immune markers are the mainstay. The design and interpretation of human biomarker studies require additional insights in the trajectories and drivers of peripheral immune markers. The current study mapped maternal inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-17A, IL-23, interferon- γ ) during pregnancy and investigated the impact of demographic, environmental and genetic drivers on maternal inflammatory marker levels in four multi-ethnic and socio-economically diverse population-based cohorts with more than 12,000 pregnant participants. Additionally, pregnancy inflammatory markers were compared to pre-pregnancy levels. Cytokines showed a high correlation with each other, but not with CRP. Inflammatory marker levels showed high variability between individuals, yet high concordance within an individual over time during and pre-pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) explained more than 9.6% of the variance in CRP, but less than 1% of the variance in cytokines. The polygenic score of CRP was the best predictor of variance in CRP (>14.1%). Gestational age and previously identified inflammation drivers, including tobacco use and parity, explained less than 1% of variance in both cytokines and CRP. Our findings corroborate differential underlying regulatory mechanisms of CRP and cytokines and are suggestive of an individual inflammatory marker baseline which is, in part, genetically driven. While prior research has mainly focused on immune marker changes throughout pregnancy, our study suggests that this field could benefit from a focus on intra-individual factors, including metabolic and genetic components.