Abstract
BackgroundOffspring of asthmatic mothers have increased risk of developing asthma, based on human epidemiologic data and experimental animal models. The objective of this study was to determine whether maternal allergy at non-pulmonary sites can increase asthma risk in offspring.MethodsBALB/c female mice received 2 topical applications of vehicle, dinitrochlorobenzene, or toluene diisocyanate before mating with untreated males. Dinitrochlorobenzene is a skin-sensitizer only and known to induce a Th1 response, while toluene diisocyanate is both a skin and respiratory sensitizer that causes a Th2 response. Both cause allergic contact dermatitis. Offspring underwent an intentionally suboptimal protocol of allergen sensitization and aerosol challenge, followed by evaluation of airway hyperresponsiveness, allergic airway inflammation, and cytokine production. Mothers were tested for allergic airway disease, evidence of dermatitis, cellularity of the draining lymph nodes, and systemic cytokine levels. The role of interleukin-4 was also explored using interleukin-4 deficient mice.ResultsOffspring of toluene diisocyanate but not dinitrochlorobenzene-treated mothers developed an asthmatic phenotype following allergen sensitization and challenge, seen as increased Penh values, airway inflammation, bronchoalveolar lavage total cell counts and eosinophilia, and Th2 cytokine imbalance in the lung. Toluene diisocyanate treated interleukin-4 deficient mothers were able to transfer asthma risk to offspring. Mothers in both experimental groups developed allergic contact dermatitis, but not allergic airway disease.ConclusionMaternal non-respiratory allergy (Th2-skewed dermatitis caused by toluene diisocyanate) can result in the maternal transmission of asthma risk in mice.
Highlights
Offspring of asthmatic mothers have increased risk of developing asthma, based on human epidemiologic data and experimental animal models
To investigate the mechanisms that mediate the maternal transfer of asthma risk, we developed a murine model in which offspring of asthmatic BALB/c female mice show higher asthma susceptibility than normal babies
We have recently reported that the adoptive transfer of allergen-specific T cells [12] is sufficient to recreate the maternal transfer of asthma risk, even though recipient mothers do not show detectable signs of allergic airway disease
Summary
Offspring of asthmatic mothers have increased risk of developing asthma, based on human epidemiologic data and experimental animal models. Respiratory Research 2007, 8:56 http://respiratory-research.com/content/8/1/56 evidence in mice and humans that allergic sensitization may occur in the prenatal period [6,7,8]. This maternal association taken together with prenatal sensitization data, implies that some component(s) of the in utero environment may be causing increased asthma risk in offspring. To investigate the mechanisms that mediate the maternal transfer of asthma risk, we developed a murine model in which offspring of asthmatic BALB/c female mice show higher asthma susceptibility than normal babies. We have recently reported that the adoptive transfer of allergen-specific T cells [12] is sufficient to recreate the maternal transfer of asthma risk, even though recipient mothers do not show detectable signs of allergic airway disease
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