title: Maternal allergy acts synergistically with cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy to induce hepatic fibrosis in adult male offspring.
abstract: Maternal environmental exposures during pregnancy are known to affect disease onset in adult offspring. For example, maternal asthma exacerbations during pregnancy can worsen adult asthma in the offspring. Cigarette smoking during pregnancy is associated with future onset of cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. However, little is known about the effect of maternal environmental exposures on offspring susceptibility to liver disease. This pilot study examined the long-term effect of maternal allergen challenge and/or cigarette smoking during pregnancy on hepatic inflammation and fibrosis in adult mouse offspring. Ovalbumin (OVA) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-sensitized/challenged CD-1 dams were exposed to mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS) or filtered air from gestational day 4 until parturition. Eight weeks postnatally, offspring were sacrificed for comparison of hepatic histology and mRNA expression. Adult male offspring of OVA-sensitized/challenged dams exposed to MCS (OSM) displayed significantly increased liver fibrosis (9.2% collagen content vs. <4% for all other treatment groups). These mice also had 1.8-fold greater collagen 1A1 mRNA levels. From the results here, we concluded that maternal allergen challenge in combination with cigarette smoke exposure during pregnancy may be an important risk factor for liver disease in adult male offspring.
authors: Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, NY, USA.
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Allina
authors: Jacquelin
authors: J
authors: Grabowski
authors: Shannon
authors: S
authors: Doherty-Lyons
authors: M Isabel
authors: MI
authors: Fiel
authors: Christine E
authors: CE
authors: Jackson
authors: Judith T
authors: JT
authors: Zelikoff
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Odin
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D021461:Animals, Outbred Strains; D024042:Collagen Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051379:Mice; D010047:Ovalbumin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D024042:Collagen Type I; D000090602:Collagen Type I, alpha 1 Chain; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012906:Smoke; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D010047:Ovalbumin; D020797:Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta