Allergic sensitization and exposure to ambient air pollution beginning early in life lead to a COPD-like phenotype in young adult mice.

The perinatal period and early infancy are considered critical periods for lung development. During this period, adversities such as environmental exposures, allergic sensitization, and asthma are believed to impact lung health in adulthood. Therefore, we hypothesized that concomitant exposure to allergic sensitization and urban-derived fine particulate matter (PM) in the early postnatal period of mice would cause more profound alterations in lung alveolarization and growth and differently modulate lung inflammation and gene expression than either insult alone in adult life.

Pre- and postnatal exposure of mice to concentrated urban PM decreases the number of alveoli and leads to altered lung function at an early stage of life.

Gestational exposure to air pollution is associated with negative outcomes in newborns and children. In a previous study, we demonstrated a synergistic negative effect of pre- and postnatal exposure to PM on lung development in mice. However, the means by which air pollution affects development of the lung have not yet been identified.