Early-life antibiotics attenuate regulatory T cell generation and increase the severity of murine house dust mite-induced asthma.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Early-life exposure to antibiotics (ABX) has been linked to increases in asthma severity and prevalence in both children and laboratory animals. We explored the immunologic mechanisms behind this association using a mouse model of house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma and early-life ABX exposure.

Methods

Mice were exposed to three short courses of ABX following weaning and experimental asthma was thereafter induced. Airway cell counts and differentials; serum immunoglobulin E (IgE); pulmonary function; lung histopathology; pulmonary regulatory T cells (Tregs); and the fecal microbiome were characterized following ABX exposure and induction of experimental asthma.

Results

Asthma severity was increased in mice exposed to ABX, including: airway eosinophilia,

SUBMITTER: Adami AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6258300 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature