Early Postnatal Exposure to Cigarette Smoke Leads to Later Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Mice

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Asthma is one of the most common airway inflammatory diseases. In most cases, asthma development is related to ubiquitous harmful environmental exposure factors in early-life. Previous studies have indicated that smoking can promote asthma development and increase the difficulty of asthma control. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of early-life CS exposure on ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized asthmatic mice. METHODS: Pathological and immunological functions were analyzed in an adult asthma mice model in which mice were sensitized with OVA combined with early-life CS exposure. RESULTS: Mice exposed to CS for only 5 weeks demonstrated significantly reduced pulmonary compliance, increased airway inflammation, and augmented cellular and humoral immune responses. In addition, CS inhalation was sufficient to facilitate OVA sensitization and challenge asthmatic development. Meanwhile, CS exposure amplified regulatory T cell-mediated immunity inhibition, but still did not offset the increased effector T cell-mediated inflammatory response. CONCLUSION: Early-life CS exposure is significantly associated with later pulmonary injury and aggravation of T-cell immunologic derangement in asthmatic mice.