title: Endotoxin inhalation alters lung development in neonatal mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Childhood asthma is a significant public health problem. Epidemiologic evidence suggests an association between childhood asthma exacerbations and early life exposure to environmental endotoxin. Although the pathogenesis of endotoxin-induced adult asthma is well studied, questions remain about the impact of environmental endotoxin on pulmonary responsiveness in early life.
  
  
  METHODS
  We developed a murine model of neonatal/juvenile endotoxin exposures approximating those in young children and evaluated the lungs inflammatory and remodeling responses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Persistent lung inflammation induced by the inhalation of endotoxin in early life was demonstrated by the influx of inflammatory cells and pro-inflammatory mediators to the airways and resulted in abnormal alveolarization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of this study advance the understanding of the impact early life endotoxin inhalation has on the lower airways, and demonstrates the importance of an experimental design that approximates environmental exposures as they occur in young children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 52242, USA.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kulhankova
authors.forename: Caroline L S
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Joel N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Thorne
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D059550:Toxicity Tests, Subchronic
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D004731:Endotoxins