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The Effect of In Utero Diesel Exhaust (DE) Exposure on Development of Allergic Inflammation in Offspring
Citation:
SHARKHUU, T., W. P. LINAK, Q. T. KRANTZ, AND M. I. GILMOUR. The Effect of In Utero Diesel Exhaust (DE) Exposure on Development of Allergic Inflammation in Offspring. Presented at Annual American Thoracic Society, San Diego, CA, May 15 - 20, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
Recent studies have shown that pre-term birth weights and the incidence of asthma are increased in children born from mothers who live close to heavily trafficked roads and highways. In this study we examined the effect of inhalation DE exposure by pregnant mice on the subsequent development of allergic airway inflammation in the offspring.
Description:
Recent studies have shown that pre-term birth weights and the incidence of asthma are increased in children born from mothers who live close to heavily trafficked roads and highways. In this study we examined the effect of inhalation DE exposure by pregnant mice on the subsequent development of allergic airway inflammation in the offspring. Time pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed to air, 0.5 mg/m3 or 2 mg/m3 of DE for 4 hours per day from gestational day (GD)-9 to GD-19. The offspring were weaned, and at 6 weeks of age intranasally sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) on 2 successive days followed 2 weeks later by 3 daily challenges with OVA. Following each challenge the immediate responses to antigen (IR) were measured in whole-body plethysmograph apparatus. One day after the last challenge the mice were assessed for responsiveness to inhaled methacholine and markers of allergy including biochemical changes, airway and tissue eosinophils, cytokine production in local lymph nodes, and OVA-specific IgE and IgG1 in serum. Higher IRs, biochemical indices and tissue eosinophils occurred in female mice than males from dams exposed to air. The level of allergic inflammation in males was not affected by exposure to 0.5 mg/m3 DE while the females had reduced inflammatory and functional changes to antigen challenge in association with increased IFN-γ and airway neutrophils. However, dam exposure to 2 mg/m3 DE did not alter offspring allergic responses in either sex compared to air controls. Collectively, the results show that under these experimental conditions DE did not enhance allergic development but in fact reduced immune-mediated disease in female offspring from dams exposed to the lower concentration of DE. Further studies will determine whether this gender-specific effect has any influence in resistance to respiratory infection. (Funded by EPA through ORISE. This abstract does not reflect EPA policy.)