Study Some lung diseases are pre-programmed in the womb

Chronic lung disease can be "programmed"
The development of chronic lung diseases is often associated with risk factors that our airways are exposed to over the years. However, the basis for the diseases could be set much earlier in our lives than previously thought.

According to the University of Cologne, chronic lung diseases mainly affect adults from the age of 40 years. Often the diseases are associated with certain risk factors, such as smoking cough. However, the causes of chronic lung diseases can also be found in the period before and after birth (perinatal period), reports the University of Cologne. The prospective pediatrician Dr. Alejandre Alcázar from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine of the University of Cologne discovered in his research that lung diseases are already created - "programmed" - during organ development.

According to recent findings, the development of chronic lung diseases is sometimes pre-programmed in the womb. (Image: DragonImages / fotolia.com)

Development of the lung prone to disorders
The perinatal period is undoubtedly of paramount importance for the development and maturation of all organs and organ functions. The research of recent years has made it clear here that in this critical time window the development processes are very susceptible to external influences and can be "programmed" in the long term, according to the report of the Cologne University Hospital. The lungs take a special position as their maturation and growth continues long after birth. Factors influencing growth, maturation and function can be adversely affected by influential factors during pregnancy, such as deficiency of the child, overweight (obesity) or smoking of the mother.

Effects of the course of pregnancy on the development of the children
After Dr. Dr. Alejandre Alcázar returned from Stanford University to the University of Cologne in 2015, he founded the working group (AG) Experimental Pulmonology to further deepen the three main research areas of ventilation, oxygen and nutrition. The focus here is on the identification of molecular mechanisms of chronic lung diseases that have their origin in the critical perinatal time window of development, reports the University of Cologne. In experimental animal models, the research team had investigated "how specific metabolic situations (deficiency of the fetus during pregnancy or maternal obesity) affect the child."

Perinatal and early childhood development with far-reaching consequences
Previous studies have already shown that malnutrition in the womb leads to impaired lung function. In the following studies, they found that "accelerated weight gain after birth can lead to long-term asthma-like illness," according to the Cologne University Hospital. This new finding not only emphasizes the enormous importance of early childhood development and perinatal programming, but also defines approaches for the prevention of chronic lung diseases. For his work, Dr. Dr. Alcázar awarded the Heinrich Nestlé Science Award.

"If we know the molecular mechanisms involved in childbirth, we can find new preventive approaches to chronic lung disease," says Dr. Dr. Alcázar. It would be possible to intervene in the process before a disease develops, thus protecting not only the child, but also the later adult, explains the award winner. (Fp)