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Published on: August 25, 2014
Perinatal nicotine-induced transgenerational asthma.
Virender K Rehan1, Jie Liu, Reiko Sakurai
1Dept. of Pediatrics, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, 1124 W. Carson St., Torrance, CA 90502-2006. vrehan@labiomed.org.
Summary
Perinatal nicotine exposure can cause asthma-like symptoms in offspring across generations. This study shows asthma transmission extends to the third generation (F3) in a rat model, impacting lung function.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Developmental Biology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Asthma is a significant global health concern with suspected transgenerational inheritance.
- Previous studies demonstrated asthma-like phenotypes inherited up to two generations (F2) after maternal nicotine exposure.
- The extent of asthma transmission across subsequent generations remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if perinatal nicotine exposure transmits asthma transgenerationally to the third generation (F3) offspring.
- To extend findings on asthma inheritance beyond the F2 generation in a rat model.
- To analyze pulmonary function and molecular markers in F3 offspring.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a validated rat model for nicotine exposure-induced asthma.
- Exposed gestating F0 dams to nicotine during the perinatal period.
- Assessed pulmonary function and molecular markers (fibronectin, PPARγ) in F3 offspring fibroblasts.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated transgenerational transmission of the asthma phenotype to F3 offspring.
- Observed abnormal pulmonary function, specifically in the upper airways of male F3 offspring.
- Confirmed alterations in molecular markers (fibronectin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ) consistent with asthma.
Conclusions:
- Perinatal nicotine exposure induces a transgenerational asthma phenotype extending to the F3 generation.
- The study provides the first evidence of asthma transmission to the third generation following maternal nicotine exposure.
- Findings highlight potential long-term health impacts of environmental exposures across multiple generations.
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