Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Protective effect of maternal exposure to α-lipoic acid during pregnancy and lactation on susceptibility to OVA-induced neonatal asthma

Yong Jiang¹, Xingjuan Liao¹, Shengsheng Wang², Zhifu Ni¹, Rui Liang¹, Yuling Zhang¹, Didi Tao¹

¹Department of Paediatrics, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China; ²Department of General Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China; ³Department of Paediatric Surgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei 442000, P.R. China.

For correspondence:- Didi Tao Email: 410656242@qq.com Tel:+867198801392

Accepted: 28 January 2022 Published: 28 February 2021

Citation: Jiang Y, Liao X, Wang S, Ni Z, Liang R, Zhang Y, et al. Protective effect of maternal exposure to α-lipoic acid during pregnancy and lactation on susceptibility to OVA-induced neonatal asthma. Trop J Pharm Res 2022; 21(2):289-296 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v21i2.11

© 2022 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the beneficial effect of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) during pregnancy and lactation on susceptibility to ovalbumin (OVA)-induced neonatal asthma, and the mechanism of involved.

Methods: Pregnant BALB/c mice were administered ALA (1 % mixed with mouse chow) or standard mouse chow from 6th day of gestation to 21st day of lactation (postnatal). The offspring (neonatal pups) from the OVA and ALA+OVA groups were sensitized on 1st, 7th and 14th postnatal days (PNDs) via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of OVA (0.5 µg). Control mice pups were not exposed to OVA. On PND 21, all pubs were again exposed to 1 % OVA aerosol using a nebulizer.

Results: Neonatal mice exposed to ALA showed a significant decline (p < 0.05) in the number of inflammatory cells (eosinophils), levels of inflammatory markers (IL-4, IL-13, IL-5 and TNF-α) as well as OVA-specific IgE and total IgE, when compared to neonatal mice from pregnant mice that did not receive ALA (control). Moreover, the antioxidant profiles of ALA-treated mice offspring were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Marked downregulation (p < 0.05) of the protein expressions of NF-κB p-p65 subunit and TNF-α were observed in ALA-treated mice pups.

Conclusion: ALA exposure during pregnancy (maternal exposure) markedly decreases OVA-induced asthmatic airway inflammatory response in pups. Thus, ALA might be beneficial for use along with standard anti-asthmatic drugs in the management of pediatric asthmatic patients

Keywords: ?-Lipoic acid, Asthma, Ovalbumin, Inflammation, Neonatal