The transfer of maternal antigen-specific IgG regulates the development of allergic airway inflammation early in life in an FcRn-dependent manner

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2010 Apr 30;395(2):238-43. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.03.170. Epub 2010 Apr 1.

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease characterized by airway hyperreactivity, increased mucus production, and reversible airway contraction. Asthma is a complex genetic trait caused by environmental factors in genetically predisposed individuals. The transportation of maternal antigen-specific IgG via amniotic fluid, placenta and breast milk plays an important role in passive immunity. First, to examine whether maternal passive immunity by the transportation of antigen-specific IgG via FcRn regulates allergic airway inflammation, ovalbumin-immunized FcRn(+/-) female mice were bred with FcRn(-/-) male mice to evaluate the degree of ovalbumin-induced allergic airway inflammation of FcRn(-/-) offspring. Maternal passive immunity regulated allergic airway inflammation in an FcRn-dependent manner. Second, to examine the role of maternal antigen-specific IgG1 injection into mothers, we intravenously injected ovalbumin-specific IgG1 into wild-type or FcRn(+/-) mice immediately after they gave birth. The offspring were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin. Antigen-specific IgG1 administered to lactating mice reduced allergic airway inflammation in their offspring in an FcRn-dependent manner. Last, to exclude the factor of maternal passive immunity other than ovalbumin-specific IgG1, we administered ovalbumin-specific IgG1 orally to offspring after birth. Oral administration of ovalbumin-specific IgG1 to offspring during the lactating period prevented the development of allergic airway inflammation in an FcRn-dependent manner. These data show that the transfer of maternal antigen-specific IgG regulates the development of allergic airway inflammation early in life in an FcRn-dependent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Asthma / genetics
  • Asthma / immunology*
  • Asthma / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / metabolism*
  • Immunization, Passive
  • Immunoglobulin G / administration & dosage
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology*
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Inflammation / immunology
  • Inflammation / prevention & control
  • Lactation / immunology
  • Male
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange / immunology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Receptors, Fc / genetics
  • Receptors, Fc / metabolism*
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / genetics
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / immunology
  • Respiratory Hypersensitivity / prevention & control

Substances

  • Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Fc
  • Ovalbumin
  • Fc receptor, neonatal