LAUSR

Asthma is a chronic in fl ammatory lung disease that is in fl uenced by both genetic and environmental factors (1). Studies show that both not only contribute to the development of asthma but also may in fl uence severity (1, 2). For the fetus, exposures within the maternal environment are believed to have a long-lasting impact on lung immune responses and airway function in the offspring. Several maternal factors, including atopy, asthma, smoking, obesity, stress, and environmental exposures, are among the immunological and physiological factors that in fl uence asthma development (3 – 6). The underlying mechanisms by which maternal asthma contributes to the development of asthma in offspring remain poorly de fi ned. One reason is the lack of established animal models to interrogate the likely complex immunological responses and interactions between mother and fetus.