How maternal exposure to aflatoxin B1 impacts the development of progeny intestinal immune system

Abstract

Exposure to toxic contaminants during early-life is associated with the development of diseases. Individuals are exposed to mycotoxins since early stages of life[1]. However how maternal exposure to mycotoxins influences the development and function of the offspring’s immune system remains largely unexplored. Recently, we showed that in utero maternal exposure to micronutrients is critical for the development of the immune system, which sets long term immunity if the progeny[2]. Here we show that presence of aflatoxin B1 in the diet of pregnant murine females affects the development and function of the intestinal immune system. Notably, maternal exposure to AFB1 promoted an increase of overall T cell population, while it also resulted in a selective reduction of cytokine-producing innate lymphoid cells group 2 (ILC2) population in intestine of the progeny. These alterations were associated with decreased expression of Reg3b, Reg3g and Fut2 by the intestinal mucosa of progeny. Thus, these results indicate that maternal exposure to mycotoxins impacts the development of offspring intestinal immune system. ILC2 are critical in intestinal epithelial repair, whether mice exposed to AFB1 display defective tissue damage response needs to be investigated. Also FUT2-dependent fucosylation is key in host–commensal symbiosis suggesting alterations in the intestinal microbiota. Our work reveals that maternal exposure to dietary contaminants such as mycotoxins alters the normal development of intestinal immune system framework of the progeny and may have impact in their immune function.