Treatment of Pregnant Females with Anti-Acids Induces Sensitization in Mothers and a Perinatal Th2-Dominated Immune Response in Offsprings: a BALB/c Mouse Model

sitization in Mothers and a Perinatal Th2-Dominated Immune Response in Offsprings: a BALB/c Mouse Model I. Scholl1, U. Ackermann2, C. Ozdemir3, N. Blumer2, T. Dicke2, S. Sel2, S. Sel2, M. Wegmann2, E. Untersmayr1, H. Garn2, E. Jensen-Jarolim1, H. Renz2; 1Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Inst. of Pathophysiology, Vienna, AUSTRIA, 2Hospital of the Philipps-University Marburg, Dept. of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Marburg, GERMANY, 3School of Medicine Marmara University, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Division, Istanbul, TURKEY. RATIONALE: It was shown that anti-acid drugs induce sensitization against food through blockade of peptic digestion. Up to 50% of pregnant women receive antacids or sucralfate to treat their gastric complaints. Here, after sucralfate-treatment of the pregnant mother, the resulting antigen-specific immune response of the offspring was investigated in a BALB/c mouse model. METHODS: Mother mice were fed during pregnancy and lactation with codfish extract in combination with sucralfate. To control the influence of sucralfate on the sensitization against homologous and heterologous antigens, offsprings were immunized with codfish and ovalbumin intraperitoneally. In serum of dams and offspring, specific antibodies were determined. Cytokines in supernatants of antigen-stimulated splenocytes and skin reactivity of the offspring were evaluated. RESULTS: In mother mice, high IgG1 and positive skin tests indicated an allergic response against codfish. Their offspring also showed high amounts of codfish-specific IgG1 during the suckling period (before sensitization). These were most likely of maternal origin. When these young animals were sensitized i.p. with codfish and ovalbumin, there was no difference found for antigen-specific IgG1 or IgG2a. In contrast, IgE to codfish but not to ovalbumin was significantly suppressed. Despite this suppression, the ratio of IL-5/IFNwas much higher in offsprings of sucralfate-treated mothers, paralleled by significantly reduced IL-10 and enhanced skin test reactivity. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that anti-ulcer medication supports specific sensitization to food proteins in pregnant mothers. The maternal IgG1, which is formed during this medication, suppresses antigen-specific IgE in newborns. However, a Th2 bias is found in the offspring of sucralfate-treated mothers. Funding: Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation