title: Cross-fostering increases TH1/TH2 expression in a prenatal dexamethasone exposure rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prenatal dexamethasone exposure has been reported to increase allergy potential in childhood possibly by interference with normal immunological development in utero. This study investigated the effects of prenatal dexamethasone on T helper cell immune responses in a rat model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant rats received either dexamethasone 0.1 mg/kg/day or normal saline from gestational day 14-21. Off-springs were cared for by their biological mother, or cross-fostered by the opposing group. Spleen and blood samples were collected at post-natal day 7 and 120 and tested for mRNA expression and plasma cytokine levels of Th1/Th2/Th17 immune response.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both Th1 (T-bet) and Th2 (GATA-3) mRNA expression were shown to have a significant increase in the prenatal dexamethasone exposure group at day 120 (p<0.05). The plasma levels for Th1 (IFNγ and IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13) were found to have no significant differences between the two group (p>0.05). The mRNA expression of Th17 (RORγt) showed a significant decrease at post-natal day 120 as well as the plasma level of IL-17A at day 7 (11.21±1.67 vs. 6.23±1.06 pg/ml, p = 0.02). Cross-fostering by a dexamethasone exposed mother resulted in a significant increase in Th1/Th2 mRNA expression (p<0.05) and decrease of Th17.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal dexamethasone exposure increased Th1, Th2 and decreased Th17 expression. Cross-fostering by a dexamethasone exposed mother results in more prominent increase of Th1 and Th2 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ho-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mindy Ming-Huey
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Therapy and Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shih-Feng
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jiunn-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hong-Ren
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mao-Meng
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: You-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Tung
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D058504:Th17 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D050990:GATA3 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; C118437:negative elongation factor; D003907:Dexamethasone