title: Intravenous lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary maturation and structural changes in fetal sheep.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antenatal pulmonary inflammation is associated with reduced risk for respiratory distress syndrome but with an increased risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) with impaired alveogenesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesized that fetal systemic inflammation induced by intravenous (IV) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) would affect lung development in utero.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one fetal sheep were instrumented (107 days gestational age). Control fetuses received saline (N = 12) and 9 in the study group received 100 ng of LPS IV 3 days after surgery. Animals were assessed for lung maturation and structure after 3 (N = 5) and 7 (N = 4) days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin-6 concentration increased in the bronchoalveolar lavage more than 40-fold 3 days after LPS IV. Processing of pro-surfactant protein (SP)-B to mature SP-B and increased SP-B concentrations were shown 7 days after LPS IV. Deposition of elastin fibers at sites of septation was disturbed within 3 days after LPS IV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lung maturation and disturbed lung structure occurred after short-term exposure to fetal inflammation and suggests new targeted therapies for BPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Maastricht University Hospital Center, the Netherlands. bkra@paed.azm.nl
authors.forename: Boris W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ladenburger
authors.forename: Steffen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kunzmann
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Speer
authors.forename: Jasper V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Been
authors.forename: J Freek
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: van Iwaarden
authors.forename: Luc J I
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gantert
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Garnier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004549:Elastin / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D005325:Fetal Organ Maturity / Q000276:immunology*; D005333:Fetus; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008168:Lung / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D008170:Lung Compliance; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D037701:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein B; D004549:Elastin