Figure 11.

Model for Maternal βGlcCer enhancement of offspring allergen responsiveness. Mothers with allergic lung inflammation have increased βGlcCer that is transported to the placenta and the fetal liver, where the immune system develops in the fetus. This increases DCs of resident DC phenotype in the fetal liver and neonates have elevated numbers of resident DCs in the pup lungs. These neonates of allergic mothers develop allergic lung inflammation in response to allergen sensitization and allergen challenge. The neonate response to allergen is mediated by altered dendritic cell development since DCs of offspring of allergic mothers are sufficient for the allergen responsiveness (4, 12). In contrast, offspring of non-allergic mothers do not have elevated βGlcCer and don't respond to allergen.