A scientific study conducted by American scientists has shown that exposure to nicotine before and after birth causes changes in immune genes that persist into adulthood.
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Researchers discovered in a study conducted on mice that the offspring had fewer immune cells in their lungs. They also found that nicotine alters stem cells in mice, which are the cells that produce blood cells and immune cells in the lungs.
According to them, exposure to nicotine during pregnancy and immediately after birth may have long-lasting effects on a child's immune system, leading to more severe respiratory infections later in life. This, they say, is why children suffer from frequent respiratory infections.
Researchers used mouse models and cell lineage tracking equipment to understand how nicotine exposure during pregnancy and birth affects hematopoietic stem cells. They found that offspring exposed to nicotine had fewer of these cells, and that changes in immune-regulating genes persisted into adulthood, even though exposure ceased shortly after birth. The lungs of adult mice were also found to contain fewer resident macrophages—essential immune cells that form the first line of defense.
After exposure to nicotine, the number of these cells decreases, which may explain why children are more susceptible to respiratory infections. This may not be due solely to tobacco smoke, but also to the nicotine the child receives during pregnancy. This is significant, which is why doctors sometimes recommend nicotine replacement therapy for pregnant women to help them quit smoking—nicotine patches and gum also contain nicotine.
Mice exposed to nicotine perinatally who contracted influenza showed increased lung inflammation, more severe tissue damage, and significant weight loss.
The scientists say: "The cells may retain this memory, but only show it upon a second infection. Therefore, we want to understand what this memory is and where it is located in the cells. Because we do not rule out the occurrence of a similar overreaction with pneumonia and respiratory syncytial virus. Our results have shown that the environment in early life may have long-lasting effects on the immune system."
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