Zika virus exposure during pregnancy permanently shapes offspring’s frontline immune cells

A study by Wayne State University, published on October 3, 2025, in Nature Communications, has found that prenatal exposure to the Zika virus leads to long-term immune system changes in offspring, with significant differences based on sex. The research, led by Dr. Jiahui Ding, an assistant professor in the School of Medicine, indicates that even mild or asymptomatic infections in pregnant women can alter the development of immune cells known as neutrophils in their children.

The study revealed that male offspring were more significantly impacted, exhibiting slower growth and an exaggerated inflammatory response when exposed to bacteria later in life. This suggests a heightened risk for chronic inflammation and tissue damage in males exposed to Zika in utero. Additionally, the placental response varied between sexes, with male placentas activating immune pathways more strongly than female placentas, which demonstrated metabolic changes.

Crucially, the team identified a protein, A20 (Tnfaip3), as an important factor in regulating neutrophil activation in a sex-specific manner, indicating that male neutrophils may have a diminished inflammatory response following exposure. This could affect their ability to combat infections effectively.

The findings indicate that children with prenatal Zika exposure may require ongoing monitoring for immune system vulnerabilities, underscoring the importance of preventing viral transmission among pregnant women.