During pregnancy, as a special period, mother is vulnerable to adverse exposure, affecting the health of offspring. Maternal immune activation (MIA) due to maternal immune imbalance during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of offspring. Evidence from epidemiological studies and animal studies supports an association between MIA and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring. A variety of factors, such as genetic background, maternal nutritional status and maternal gut microbes, can influence the strength of the association. Studies have shown that MIA affects synapsis formation and pruning in offspring through a variety of pathways, and the placenta also plays a role in such association. This article summarizes the recent research of the association between MIA and neurodevelopmental disorders in children, and provides suggestion for the prevention of the incidence of NDDs.
