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The impact of maternal allergic sensitization on the development of pre‐ and postnatal immunity
Author(s) -
Uthoff H.,
Spenner A.,
Wölk G.,
Schaefer J.R.,
Hackler R.,
Renz H.,
Herz U.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2002.00003.x
Subject(s) - immunology , ovalbumin , immune system , sensitization , immunity , biology , phenotype , allergen , balb/c , acquired immune system , pregnancy , allergy , genetics , gene
Epidemiological studies indicate the importance of pre‐ and postnatal factors in shaping the T‐cell effector response in early childhood. To study the underlying mechanisms we developed a murine model of prenatal sensitization. BALB/c mice were sensitized to Ovalbumin (OVA) before mating followed by OVA‐aerosol‐exposure during pregnancy (BALB/cOVA). The following key results have been recently obtained: (i) free allergen crosses the placental barrier in pregnant mice; (ii) T‐cells from (BALB/cOVA × BALB/c) F1 demonstrated a lowered frequency and reduced level of IFN‐γ production; (iii) F1 mice were challenged with the heterlogous allergen BLG. The antibody response and type I hyperreactivity reaction were accelerated and augmented in these (BALB/cOVA × BALB/c)F1 [=wild‐type phenotype]. This phenotype depends on the maternal adaptive immune system, since (SCIDOVA × BALB/c)F1 showed a normal immune response. The wild‐type phenotype could be reconstituted in (SCIDOVA × BALB/c)F1 by prenatal transfer of CD4 + OVA T‐cells. These data suggest a critical role for maternal T/B cells in shaping prepostnatal maturation of specific immunity to allergens.