Pre-birth world and the development of the immune system: mum's diet affects our adult health: new insight on how the diet during pregnancy permanently influences offspring health and immune fitness.
Secondary lymphoid organs form in utero through an inherited and well-established developmental program. However, maternal non-heritable features can have a major impact on the gene expression of the embryo, hence influencing the future health of the offspring. Recently, maternal retinoids were shown to regulate the formation of immune structures, shedding light on the role of maternal nutrition in the genetic signature of emergent immune cells. Here we highlight evidence showing how the maternal diet influences the establishment of the immune system, and we also discuss how unbalanced maternal diets may set the response to infection and vaccination in the progeny.
Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Manuela
M
Ferreira
Henrique
H
Veiga-Fernandes
D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D004032:Diet; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D007121:Immunocompetence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology*; D014611:Vaccination / Q000009:adverse effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
D014801:Vitamin A
infection; innate lymphoid cells; maternal diet; secondary lymphoid organs; vitamin A