How Fetuses Defend Themselves From Viral Infections – Asian Scientist Magazine

The study led by researchers from Duke-NUS Medical School reveals that the fetal immune system can mount defenses against infections earlier than previously thought, challenging the assumption that fetuses rely solely on the mother’s immune system for protection. By studying Zika virus transmission from mother to fetus, the researchers found that immune cells like microglia play a protective role in limiting viral replication and neuroinflammation, while harmful immune responses from monocytes contribute to brain damage. Targeting specific immune responses, such as blocking Nos2 function, could be a potential therapeutic strategy for viral infections that cause brain inflammation in fetuses.

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