Influence of Nutrition and Maternal Bonding on Postnatal Lung Development in the Newborn Pig

Abstract

BackgroundMicrobial colonization and immune cell maturation coincide at mucosal sites and are decisive for postnatal lung development. How external factors influence neonatal pulmonary immune development is poorly understood.ObjectiveTo elucidate the impact of key determinants in early life, nutrition, and maternal bonding, on postnatal lung maturation in a human-relevant animal model. To investigate the underlying immunological changes of impaired lung maturation and study the mechanisms of conversion.MethodsNewborn piglets were kept with or without isolation from their mothers and fed bovine milk-based infant formula or received milk of sow. Lung growth, histomorphology, respiratory immune responses, and lung microbiota were analyzed. Mother- and sow-milk-deprived piglets received maternal material or were reintroduced to the maternal environment at varying intervals to study options for reversal.ResultsFormula feeding combined with isolation of newborn piglets resulted in disturbed postnatal lung maturation. Reduced lung growth correlated with dampened IL-33 expression, impaired lung myeloid cell activation, and decreased Th1 differentiation, along with diminished richness and diversity of the lung microbiota. Transfer of bacteria-enriched maternal material reversed the negative effects on pulmonary immune maturation. Early (within 3 days) but not late (within 7 days) reintroduction to the mother allowed restoration of normal lung development.ConclusionOur findings reveal that lung growth, respiratory immunity, and microbial lung colonization in newborns depend on postnatal diet and maternal contact, and targeting these key regulators could promote lung development during this critical life stage.SummaryDisturbances in natural diet and reduced maternal contact during the neonatal period impair postnatal lung maturation. In pediatrics, timely breast milk feeding and intensive maternal bonding represent valuable intervention measures to promote early postnatal lung development.

A Preconception Paternal Fish Oil Diet Prevents Toxicant-Driven New Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in Neonatal Mice

“…Therefore, we investigated whether a paternal fish oil diet attenuated the development of new BPD by modulating the small molecules involved in EMT. We also observed how neonatal diet impacted these parameters because maternal milk is associated with better infant health outcomes than formula feeding, which has been linked to poor postnatal lung development [34,35]. We found that the reduced risk of new BPD in the offspring of fish oil-supplemented males was associated with significantly reduced beta-catenin gene expression-a molecule involved in EMT and the development of new BPD [36][37][38][39].…”

Prenatal antibiotics exposure does not influence experimental allergic asthma in mice

“…The newborn lung harbors a Th2-biased immunological environment dominated by Th2 cells, ILC2s, eosinophils and basophils accumulating in the lung in an IL-33-dependent manner ( 42 , 43 ). After birth, in mice within the first four weeks of life, this balance between Th cells shifts from the Th2 dominant first wave towards a Th1 phenotype and upregulation of regulatory T cells (Treg) ( 44 , 45 ). In the context of allergic asthma, the Th1 shift appears relevant as asthma is a Th2-driven maladaptive immune response towards harmless aeroallergens.…”

“…In the context of allergic asthma, the Th1 shift appears relevant as asthma is a Th2-driven maladaptive immune response towards harmless aeroallergens. It is posited that intestinal commensals essentially drive the physiological Th2/Th1 conversion of the immune system ( 44 ). Thus, changes in the microbiome have the potential to modulate asthma severity by consolidating or alleviating the pro-asthmatic Th2 response or to alter asthma development/risk by altering the development of tolerogenic processes that naturally occur in the lung.…”

Linking Animal Welfare and Antibiotic Use in Pig Farming—A Review

“…During lactation, the sow transfers microorganisms to piglets, which is essential to the establishment of permanent intestinal and respiratory microbiomes that will assist in the maturation of the piglets’ immune system [ 82 , 83 ]. Piglets deprived of maternal contact and reared artificially present reduced pulmonary development, respiratory immune response and microbiome of the lungs [ 82 , 84 ].…”