Effect of neonatal endotoxin exposure on the predisposition to a variety of diseases in adulthood

Early life environmental factors have been associated with altered predisposition to a variety of pathologies. Re- searches demonstrated that early life exposure to endotoxin is associated with inflammatory, autoimmune, neuropsychiatric disease and the tumor resistance. This paper summarizes the remote effects of neonatal endotoxin challenge on the predisposition to a variety of diseases in adulthood. It also discusses whether neonatal endotoxin exposure influence the development of neuroendocrine system and immune system, and could therefore alter neuroendocrine system and immune system function, as well as the predisposition to disease, thus revealing a role for early life inflammation and infection as an important factor programming the development of neuroendocrine system and immune system.