maternal Inflammation During Pregnancy Linked to Increased Allergy Risk in Offspring: New Research
Seoul, South Korea – A groundbreaking study from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) has revealed a direct link between inflammation experienced by a mother during pregnancy and an increased susceptibility to allergic reactions in her child. Published July 1st in Mucosal Immunology, the research identifies a pathway through which placental inflammation impacts the fetal immune system, leading to heightened allergic responses later in life.
The study,led by Professor Heung Kyu Lee and Dr. Myeong Seung Kwon, demonstrates that inflammation during pregnancy can alter the development of the offspring’s immune memory, specifically impacting T cells. Researchers induced inflammation in pregnant mice using lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a known inflammatory trigger. This inflammation extended to the placenta, increasing levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), a signaling molecule that activated neutrophils and caused placental damage.
This placental damage, in turn, triggered a significant release of the stress hormone glucocorticoid in the developing fetus. Crucially, this glucocorticoid surge resulted in prolonged survival and enhanced memory function of fetal T cells – key players in the adaptive immune system.
When these mice offspring were later exposed to common allergens, such as house dust mite allergens, they exhibited dramatically heightened allergic reactions. These reactions manifested as a strong eosinophilic inflammatory response and increased activation of immune cells associated with allergy and asthma.
“This study is the first in the world to identify how a mother’s inflammatory response during pregnancy affects the fetus’s allergic immune system through the placenta,” stated Professor Lee. “This will be an important scientific basis for developing biomarkers for early prediction and establishing prevention strategies for pediatric allergic diseases.”
Understanding the Growing Allergy Epidemic
Allergic diseases, including asthma, eczema, and food allergies, are on the rise globally, particularly in developed countries. While genetic predisposition plays a role, environmental factors are increasingly recognized as significant contributors. The developing fetal immune system is particularly vulnerable to environmental influences, and the placenta, once considered a protective barrier, is now understood to be a key interface in this process.
This research highlights the importance of managing maternal inflammation during pregnancy. While the study was conducted on mice,the underlying immunological mechanisms are highly conserved in humans,suggesting the findings have significant implications for human health. Further research will focus on identifying specific biomarkers to predict risk and developing targeted interventions to mitigate the impact of maternal inflammation on offspring allergy development.
The study was supported by the Basic Science Research Program and the Bio-Medical Technology Development Program of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the National Research Foundation of Korea.
Source: KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mucimm.2025.06.006
