Effect of prenatal waterpipe tobacco smoke on airway inflammation in murine model of asthma of adult offspring mice

Objective: Worldwide popularity of waterpipe tobacco smoking has increased, including in pregnant women. This study investigates the effect of prenatal waterpipe tobacco smoke (WTS) exposure on airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma of adult offspring mice.

Materials and methods: Pregnant BALB/c mice were exposed to fresh air or WTS, using a whole-body exposure system that mimics human use during WTS. Adult male offspring mice were divided into; (1) control (prenatal fresh air, postnatal ovalbumin sensitization and saline challenge), (2) postnatal Ova S/C (prenatal fresh air, postnatal ovalbumin sensitization and challenge (Ova S/C)), (3) prenatal WTS (prenatal WTS, postnatal ovalbumin sensitization and saline challenge) and (4) prenatal WTS?+?postnatal Ova S/C. Cells from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, cytokines, and oxidative stress markers (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)) from lung homogenates were evaluated.

Results: Prenatal WTS increased recruitment of cells in lungs and levels of SOD and catalase when compared to unexposed offspring’s. The levels of cytokines, GPx and TBARS were not affected by prenatal WTS. Prenatal WTS exposure and postnatal Ova S/C increased airway inflammation and activity of SOD compared to control and Ova S/C mice and reduced IL-18 levels compared to Ova S/C mice.

Discussion and conclusions: Prenatal exposure to WTS induced airway inflammation, further enhanced by a murine model of asthma in adult offspring. Prenatal exposure to WTS adversely affects the lung function of the offspring and careful strategies for increasing public awareness regarding the harmful effects of WTS during pregnancy is important.