Authors:
Ramsey KA, Bosco A, McKenna KL, Carter KW, Elliot JG, Berry LJ, Sly PD, Larcombe AN, Zosky GR
Authors notes:
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2013;121(2):244-250
Keywords:
Arsenic, Lung growth and development, Innate immunity, Mucociliary clearance, Toxicity
Abstract:
Exposure to arsenic via drinking water is a global environmental health problem.
In utero exposure to arsenic via drinking water increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections during infancy and mortality from bronchiectasis in early adulthood.
We aimed to investigate how arsenic exposure in early life alters lung development and pathways involved in innate immunity.
The response to arsenic was genetically determined, and C57BL/6 mice were the most susceptible.
Arsenic-exposed C57BL/6 mice were smaller in size, had smaller lungs, and had impaired lung mechanics compared with controls.
Exposure to arsenic in utero up- regulated the expression of genes in the lung involved in mucus production, innate immunity, and lung morphogenesis.
Arsenic exposure also induced mucous cell metaplasia and increased expression of CLCA3 protein in the large airways.
Alterations in somatic growth, lung development, and the expression of genes involved in mucociliary clearance and innate immunity in the lung are potential mechanisms through which early life arsenic exposure impacts respiratory health.