# Does prenatal immune challenge result in increased extra-axial CSF volume?

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · 2024 · $77,750

## Abstract

Abstract
Enlarged extra-axial cerebrospinal fluid volume (CSF in the subarachnoid space) is an encouraging
neuroimaging biomarker for the early detection of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), particularly for
autism spectrum disorder. The link between extra-axial CSF accumulation and NDDs is not yet fully clear. We
propose that maternal immune activation (MIA) can help to inform about this question. Clinical and animal
studies implicate MIA during the gestational period as a significant etiological cause of NDDs. MIA is
associated with increases in maternal proinflammatory cytokines, and some of these cytokines can cross the
placenta and reach the fetal brain. MIA-related changes in the fetal brain cytokine milieu can cause adverse
effects on neurodevelopment, because, besides immune function, cytokines have a signaling function in the
brain and participate in the regulation of neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. Several findings also point to the
possible pathways on how MIA can be associated with CSF volume. The cytokines can increase CSF
secretion, inflammation with bacterial endotoxin decreases CSF flow, and cytokines also might modulate the
meningeal lymphatic-glymphatic exchange and CSF reabsorption. In this study, we propose to take advantage
of a large number of previously acquired neuroimaging scans of young monkeys from controlled rearing
conditions to interrogate the impact of prenatal inflammatory events on EA-CSF volume during infancy. We
hypothesize that these well-defined insults will reveal selective effects on the accumulation of CSF in
subarachnoid space, which can be detected with structural MRI during the postnatal period. The findings will
help to guide similar analyses in pediatric samples and may reveal novel diagnostic tools for use in pediatric
practice. Our preliminary results suggested a significant increase in extra-axial CSF volum in monkeys
prenatally exposed to bacterial endotoxin.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10816609
- **Project number:** 5R03HD111798-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- **Principal Investigator:** Roza Vlasova
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $77,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10816609

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10816609, Does prenatal immune challenge result in increased extra-axial CSF volume? (5R03HD111798-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10816609. Licensed CC0.

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