In utero Programming of Allergic Susceptibility

Grieger, Jessica A.; Clifton, Vicki L.; Tuck, Astrud R.; Wooldridge, Amy L.; Robertson, Sarah A.; Gatford, Kathryn L.

doi:10.1159/000443961

Cited by 52 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 164 publications

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“…Since immune and lung development occur largely in utero and during early childhood, diverse lifestyle and environmental exposures acting during these critical periods of life have been investigated as risk factors of developmental programming of asthma [84,85]. To this regard, several reasons support the hypothesis that prenatal vitamin D status may play a role in programming the offspring's susceptibility to develop asthma later in life.…”

Section: Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Asthma Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal and Foetal Health Implications of Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy

Larqué

Morales

Leis³

et al. 2018

Ann Nutr Metab

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Background: To what extent does the circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration help to meet the physiological needs of humans is an ongoing subject of debate. Remaining unexposed to the sun to reduce melanoma cancer risk, current lifestyle with less out door activities, and increasing obesity rates, which in turn increases the storage of vitamin D in the adipose tissue, are presumably factors that contribute to the substantial upsurge in the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in humans. Since evidence is lacking regarding the appropriate cut-off points to define vitamin D status during pregnancy, references used to establish the intake recommendations and vitamin D content of prenatal vitamin supplements are quite conservative. Summary: The foetus depends fully on maternal 25(OH)D supply. 25(OH)D readily crosses the placenta and it is activated into 1,25(OH)₂D by foetal kidneys. Moreover, 1,25(OH)₂D can also be synthesized within the placenta to regulate placental metabolism. The importance of vitamin D during pregnancy for maintaining maternal calcium homeostasis and therefore for foetal bone development is well recognized; major discussions are in progress regarding the potential maternal detrimental effects on pregnancy outcomes, foetal development, and the long-term health of children. Interventional studies have also evaluated the effect of vitamin D for reduction on preterm birth and asthma programming. Key Messages: Clinically, by understanding the effects of vitamin D on perinatal outcomes, we could individualize antenatal counselling regarding vitamin D supplementation to ensure vitamin D repletion without increasing the risk of foetal hypercalcemia.

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Section: Prenatal Vitamin D Status and Asthma Riskmentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal and Foetal Health Implications of Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy

Larqué

Morales

Leis³

et al. 2018

Ann Nutr Metab

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“…Since fetal and perinatal periods are the most critical phases of development, the risk of atopic disorders may mainly be ascribed to perinatal programming, and contributed to by non-genetic and environmental factors 26. Psychological stress is one of the suspected key factors playing a role in programming 2.…”

Section: Possible Pathways Linking Prenatal Maternal Distress and Allmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Since psycho-neuro-endocrine systems are interrelated, it may be difficult to separate the effect of each pathway, and altered neuroendocrine or autonomic systems can induce dysregulation of other systems. Any physical or psychological stress that can affect fetal psycho-neuro-endocrine systems could cause offspring's allergic diseases 2628…”

Section: Possible Pathways Linking Prenatal Maternal Distress and Allmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prenatal Maternal Distress and Allergic Diseases in Offspring: Review of Evidence and Possible Pathways

Suh

Chang

Lee

et al. 2017

Allergy Asthma Immunol Res

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Recent studies have suggested a close association between prenatal maternal distress and allergic diseases in the offspring. We selected relevant birth-cohort or national registry studies using a keyword search of the PubMed database and summarized current evidence on the impact of prenatal maternal distress on the development of offspring's allergic diseases. Moreover, we postulated possible pathways linking prenatal distress and allergic diseases based on relevant human and animal studies. Both dysregulated hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and increased oxidative stress may cause structural (altered brain/lung development) and functional (skewed immune development) changes, which may predispose the fetus to developing allergic diseases during childhood. Although many facts are yet to be discovered, changes in the placental response and epigenetic modification are presumed to mediate the whole process from maternal distress to allergic diseases. Maternal prenatal distress can also interact with other physical or environmental factors, including familial or physical factors, indoor and outdoor pollutants, and early childhood psychological distress. The gut-microbiome-brain axis and the role of the microbiome as an immune modulator should be considered when investigating the stress-allergy relationship and exploring potential intervention modalities. Further research is needed, and particular attention should be given to defining the most vulnerable subjects and critical time periods. To this end, studies exploring relevant biomarkers are warranted, which can enable us to explore adequate intervention strategies.

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“…We have recently reviewed evidence, largely in humans, for effects of perinatal exposures on the risks of allergy in progeny (Grieger et al 2016). Parental and peri-conceptual factors such as low socio economic status, having a younger mother, and having older siblings, are each associated with reduced risk of developing allergy (Grieger et al 2016).…”

Section: In Utero Exposures and Later Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Parental and peri-conceptual factors such as low socio economic status, having a younger mother, and having older siblings, are each associated with reduced risk of developing allergy (Grieger et al 2016). Having an older or obese mother, excessive maternal weight gain during pregnancy, being the first-born child and maternal smoking are associated with greater risk of developing allergy (Grieger et al 2016). Restricted growth before birth appears to be protective against allergy, but is a risk factor for asthma.…”

Section: In Utero Exposures and Later Healthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pre-birth origins of allergy and asthma

Gatford¹,

Wooldridge

Kind

et al. 2017

Journal of Reproductive Immunology

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Highlights Key points (3-5 dot points, max 85 characters including spaces)  Prenatal exposures alter later disease risk, including for allergy  Epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests IUGR protects against allergy  Elevated methyl donor abundance in late pregnancy may predispose progeny to allergy  Maternal asthma and allergy during pregnancy predispose progeny to allergy Abstract: Allergy is a chronic disease that can develop as early as infancy, suggesting that early life factors are important in its aetiology. Variable associations between size at birth, a crude marker of the fetal environment, and allergy have been reported in humans and require comprehensive review. Associations between birth weight and allergy are however confounded in humans, and we and others have therefore begun exploring the effects of early life events on allergy in experimental models. In particular, we are using ovine models to investigate whether and how a restricted environment before birth protects against allergy, whether methyl donor availability contributes to allergic protection in IUGR, and why maternal asthma during pregnancy is associated with increased risks of allergic disease in children. We found that experimental intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) in sheep reduced cutaneous responses to antigens in progeny, despite normal or elevated IgE responses. Furthermore, maternal methyl donor supplementation in late pregnancy partially reversed effects of experimental IUGR, consistent with the proposal that epigenetic pathways underlie some but not all effects of IUGR on allergic susceptibility. Ovine experimental allergic asthma with exacerbations reduces relative fetal size in late gestation, with some changes in immune populations in fetal thymus suggestive of increased activation. Maternal allergic asthma in mice also predisposes progeny to allergy development. In conclusion, these findings in experimental models provide direct evidence that a perturbed environment before birth alters immune system development and postnatal function, and provide opportunities to investigate underlying mechanisms and develop and evaluate interventions.

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In utero Programming of Allergic Susceptibility

Cited by 52 publications

References 164 publications

Maternal and Foetal Health Implications of Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy

Maternal and Foetal Health Implications of Vitamin D Status during Pregnancy

Prenatal Maternal Distress and Allergic Diseases in Offspring: Review of Evidence and Possible Pathways

Pre-birth origins of allergy and asthma

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