Maternal high-fat diet in mice alters immune regulation and lung function in the offspring

Abstract

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) modulate immune function and have been associated with risk of childhood atopy and asthma. We investigated the effect of maternal fat intake in mice on PUFA status, elongase and desaturase gene expression, inflammatory markers and lung function in the offspring. C57BL/6J mice (n=32) were fed either standard chow (C, 21% kcal fat) or a high fat diet (HFD, 45% kcal fat) for 4 weeks prior to conception and during gestation and lactation. At 21 days of age, offspring were weaned onto either the HFD or C, generating four experimental groups: C/C, C/HF, HF/C and HF/HF. Plasma and liver fatty acid composition were measured by gas chromatography and gene expression by qPCR. Lung resistance to methacholine was assessed. Arachidonic acid concentrations in offspring plasma and liver phospholipids were increased by HFD; this effect was greater in the post-natal HFD group. Docosahexaenoic acid concentration in offspring liver phospholipids was increased in response to HFD and was higher in the post-natal HFD group. Post-natal HFD increased hepatic FADS2 and ELOVL5 expression in male offspring, whereas maternal HFD elevated expression of FADS1 and FADS2 in female offspring comparing to males. Post-natal HFD increased expression of IL-6 and CCL2 in perivascular adipose tissue. The HFD lowered lung resistance to methacholine. Excessive maternal fat intake during development modifies hepatic PUFA status in offspring through regulation of gene expression of enzymes that are involved in PUFA biosynthesis and modifies the development of the offspring lungs leading to respiratory dysfunction.

Betaine hydrochloride addition in Bama mini‐pigʼs diets during gestation and lactation enhances immunity and alters intestine microbiota of suckling piglets

“…Moreover, dietary nutrient supplementation during pregnancy and lactation also improved growth performance and altered offspringʼs immunity and gut microbiota. 5,7,25 Therefore, the present study evaluated the effects of betaine hydrochloride addition in sow diets during gestation and lactation on plasma immune function, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota and their metabolites in suckling piglets.…”

Airway immune response in the mouse models of obesity-related asthma

“…Numerous studies have found that maternal HFD can affect the lung and somatic growth of the offspring. The lung volume and morphology of the offspring were affected by in utero exposure to maternal inflammation, which was mainly induced by metabolic dysfunction under maternal HFD and independent of inflammation in individual offspring (Smoothy Maternal diet composition may be more important than maternal obesity (Losol et al, 2021). During lactation, maternal HFD can cause offspring to gain weight.…”

“…Other studies have indicated that maternal HFD can alter offspring’s plasma and hepatic fatty acid composition, secrete inflammatory markers, and modify lung development. Maternal diet composition may be more important than maternal obesity ( Losol et al, 2021 ). During lactation, maternal HFD can cause offspring to gain weight.…”

Dietary fiber and fermented food consumption and its link to allergic responses

“…Microbiota metabolites may influence the development of allergic outcomes through the direct immunomodulatory or immune metabolic effects 6 or through the induced changes in the composition of gut microbiota 7 . It is established that the early‐life dysbiosis in the gut microbial composition might eventually lead to asthma and allergy, 8,9 which is why an increase in alpha diversity after consumption of fermented foods might be a very promising strategy in the context of prevention and treatment of atopic diseases. Although high‐fiber diet did not reveal any significant changes in microbial diversity, there was an increased level of commensal Lachnospira when compared to high‐fermented diet.…”