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Offspring IgE Responses are Influenced by Levels of Maternal IgG Transferred in Early Life
Author(s) -
Hansen Jitka S.,
Andreassen Monica,
Nygaard Unni C.,
Løvik Martinus
Publication year - 2013
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 - 10.1111/aji.12139
Subject(s) - offspring , immunoglobulin e , immunology , biology , pregnancy , medicine , antibody , genetics
Problem Maternal immune responses may interfere with offspring allergy development as maternal immunization may suppress IgE development, while maternal allergy may promote allergy. Therefore, we investigated the effect of two different maternal treatments on airway allergy in female and male offspring. Method of study Pregnant mice were immunized ( IMM ) with ovalbumin ( OVA ) or immunized and airway‐challenged ( IMM + AI ). At different ages, airway allergy to OVA was induced in offspring by intranasal sensitization. Results Maternal IgG 1 was found at higher levels in IMM + AI than in IMM offspring. After sensitization, the suppression of OVA ‐specific IgE and IgG 1 was complete in juvenile offspring but waned with age concurrently with maternal IgG 1 levels. Cytokine secretion, lung inflammation, and B cell priming were not suppressed although IgE responses were. Conclusions High compared with low levels of maternal IgG 1 were associated with lower T H 2 antibody production after adult offspring were re‐exposed to OVA . Thus, offspring allergy‐related responses appeared to be shaped by maternal antibody levels.