The impact of an asthmatic Maternal Environment in Pregnancy (MEP) on mediators predisposing to development of early-life asthma.

<bold>Background:</bold> Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. Maternal asthma/allergy are risk factors for developing childhood asthma suggesting a genetic and environmental contribution. The mechanisms of how the maternal environment influences susceptibility to asthma remain unclear. <bold>Aims:</bold> To study effects of the MEP in female patients with asthma on associated mediators that may predispose to asthma in early life. <bold>Methods:</bold> 10 female patients with asthma (AS of n=81) and 7 healthy controls (HC of n=92) were randomly selected from our total MEP study population of 173. All patients were prospectively recruited prior to elective Caesarean birth. In this pilot study clinical data, maternal plasma (MP), amniotic fluid (AF), and cord plasma (CP) were analysed for a panel of inflammatory cytokines by Luminex assays. SPSS®/GraphPad software was used for statistical analysis; p<0.05. <bold>Results:</bold> AS and HC mothers were of similar age with a significantly higher BMI in AS. MP levels of IL-4, -5, granzyme B, leptin, CCL4 (MIP1β) and chitinase 3 and CP levels of CCL11 (Eotaxin) & IL-8 were higher in AS mothers. IL-4, -6, -8, CCL4 were significantly higher and IL-5, Periostin, Leptin, CCL11 were lower in AF compared to MP or CP. There was no apparent effect of AS or BMI on the birthweight and no apparent effect of the new-born gender on cytokine levels. <bold>Conclusion:</bold> Multiple asthma-associated cytokine levels showed a trend or significant increase in MP and CP in AS mothers. This suggests asthma cytokines may be conferred from mothers to babies explaining their increased childhood asthma risk. These findings need to be confirmed in our ongoing MEP study cohort.