Fetal responses to lipopolysaccharide-induced chorioamnionitis alter immune and airway responses in 7-week-old sheep.
OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that fetal innate immune responses to lipopolysaccharide-induced chorioamnionitis would alter postnatal systemic immune and airway responsiveness.


METHODS
Ewes received intraamniotic injections with saline or lipopolysaccharide at 90, 100, and 110 days of gestation. Immune status and airway responsiveness were evaluated at term and at 7 weeks of age.


RESULTS
At term, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils were significantly increased (respectively, 24-fold, 127-fold, and 31,000-fold) in lungs and blood monocytes became Toll-like receptor 2 responsive after lipopolysaccharide exposures. Furthermore, CD4 and CD4/CD25 lymphocytes were increased in thymus and lymph nodes. At 7 weeks, airway reactivity decreased and concentrations of CD8 cytotoxic T lymphocytes changed in the lungs and thymus relative to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Early gestational lipopolysaccharide exposure increased leukocyte responsiveness at term. Decreased airway reactivity and changes in lymphocytes at 7 weeks postnatal demonstrate persistent effects of fetal exposure to LPS.
School of Women's and Infant's Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Andrea J X
AJ
Lee
Verena A C
VA
Lambermont
J Jane
JJ
Pillow
Graeme R
GR
Polglase
Ilias
I
Nitsos
John P
JP
Newnham
Manfred W
MW
Beilharz
Suhas G
SG
Kallapur
Alan H
AH
Jobe
Boris W
BW
Kramer
D000818:Animals; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000276:immunology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004549:Elastin / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005260:Female; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000378:metabolism
D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D004549:Elastin