Immunotoxicologic analysis of maternal transmission of asthma risk.
Asthma has origins in early life. Epidemiological studies show that maternal, more than paternal, asthma significantly increases a child's risk of developing the disease. Experimental animal models exist which reproduce the increased susceptibility to asthma seen in human studies, and allow analysis of immunotoxic mechanisms that may contribute to neonatal allergy. In addition to maternal asthma, chemically-induced skin contact hypersensitivity or exposure during pregnancy of non-allergic females to certain environmental agents, e.g., air pollution particles, can also result in increased susceptibility to asthma in their offspring. We review here experimental models of maternal transmission of asthma risk, the progress to date in identifying mechanisms, and potential directions for future research.
Fedulov
Alexey V
AV
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kobzik
Lester
L
D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000196:embryology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D004785:Environmental Pollutants