In utero ultrafine particulate matter exposure causes offspring pulmonary immunosuppression

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1816103116
• Publication Date: 2019-02-12T01:41:38Z
• Authors: Kristal A. Rychlik; Jeremiah R. Secrest; Carmen Lau; Jairus Pulczinski; Misti L. Zamora; Jeann Leal; Rebecca Langley; Louise G. Myatt; Muppala Raju; Richard C.-A. Chang; Yixin Li; Michael C. Golding; Aline Rodrigues-H...; Mario J. Molina; Renyi Zhang; Natalie M. Johnson
• Keywords: prenatal; air pollution; 610; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; Th2 Cells; Pregnancy; 616; 11. Sustainability; Hypersensitivity; 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors; Animals; Climate-Related Exposures and Conditions; Aetiology; Lung; Pediatric; Immunosuppression Therapy; 0303 health sciences; Prevention; Inflammatory and immune system; Pyroglyphidae; pulmonary immunosuppression; Perinatal Period - Conditions Originating in Perinatal Period; Allergens; ultrafine particulate matter; Asthma; in utero exposure; 3. Good health; Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Physical Sciences; Respiratory; Cytokines; Th17 Cells; Female; Particulate Matter; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid

Significance Particulate matter exposure causes infant respiratory morbidity and mortality, but the role of ultrafine particles (UFPs) with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 0.1 μm in asthma and respiratory tract infections is unclear. Limited mechanistic information is available concerning UFP influence on the etiology of childhood asthma or susceptibility to respiratory infections. Here we exposed two strains of mice (sensitive to oxidative stress or allergen exposure) to UFPs throughout gestation at concentrations relevant to human exposures. Our results reveal a window of pulmonary immunosuppression in offspring following in utero UFP exposure. A dampened host immune response during early development underlies increased childhood susceptibility to respiratory infections, highlighting the necessity to develop strategies to protect the fetus during this vulnerable period.