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Published on: March 15, 2018

Obesity induced by neonatal overfeeding worsens airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation

Zehui Ye1, Ying Huang, Dan Liu

  • 1Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.

Plos One
|October 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Neonatal overfeeding in mice led to obesity and later-life lung inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness. This study highlights the long-term respiratory consequences of early overnutrition.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pulmonary Medicine
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Obesity is a known risk factor for respiratory diseases.
  • Neonatal overfeeding can cause early-onset obesity.
  • The impact of neonatal overfeeding on respiratory health is understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of neonatal overfeeding on airway responsiveness.
  • To examine the impact of neonatal overfeeding on lung inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Neonatal overfeeding induced by small litter size (SL) in male ICR mice.
  • Airway responsiveness measured using methacholine challenge.
  • Lung inflammation assessed via cell counts, histology, and cytokine/gene expression analysis.

Main Results:

  • SL mice showed accelerated weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, and hyperleptinemia.
  • Adult SL mice exhibited enhanced airway responsiveness and significant pulmonary inflammation.
  • Increased TNF-α, collagen deposition, and TGF-β1/CTGF expression were observed in SL mice lungs.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal overfeeding induces metabolic defects and lung inflammation in adulthood.
  • This inflammation may contribute to airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness.
  • Early overnutrition poses long-term risks for respiratory health.
Abstract

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