Maternal Western Diet Increases Inflammatory Markers In Baboon Offspring

Author(s):
Grant Gershner; Katherine Snyder; Cody Dalton; Camille Schlegel; Chase Calkins; Darlene Reuter; James Papin; Karen Jonscher; Sunam Gurung; Dean Myers; Catherine Hunter

Background:

Obesity western diet (WD) have been linked to pathologies including cancers and metabolic diseases. While several studies have examined the impact of maternal obesity on neonates, few have looked at the impact of maternal diet on the fetal inflammatory milieu. In our study, Papio anubis baboon mothers were exposed to either normal baboon chow (BC) or a WD. We subsequently examined the inflammatory state of the offspring.

Hypothesis:

We hypothesize that baboon offspring of WD mothers will have increased inflammatory markers when compared to control mothers.

Methods:

Intestinal tissue was collected from twenty Papio anubis baboon offspring (eleven control, nine western diets) during necropsy over three years. RNA was isolated from the tissue for analysis.  RTqPCR was performed to analyze for markers of inflammation including Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNFα), Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4), and Interferon γ (IFNγ).  ANOVA and Unpaired T-Test were performed for statistical analysis.

Results:

RTqPCR of baboon cDNA showed elevations in IL-1β, IL-8, IL-10, IFNγ, TNFα, and TLR4.  While there was a positive trend, most were not significantly elevated (IL-1β p=0.4496, IL-8 p=0.4290, IL-10 p=0.0878, TNFα p=0.4201, TLR4 p=0.1449). IL-6 was significantly elevated (p<0.0001). IFNγ was significantly elevated between the control and western group (p=0.0021). When comparing generations, IL-1β continued to trend toward inflammation, but there was no significant difference between the two years (p=0.9941).  IL-8 was significantly elevated the second year between western and control diets (p = 0.0426), but not significantly different between years (p = 0.4290).  TLR4 was also scientifically elevated in year two (p = 0.0186), but not in year three (p =0.1449). There was a significant difference between years (p = 0.0267). IFNγ was significantly elevated in both years (y2 p=.0242, y3 = 0.0021). There was no significant difference between years (p=0.7991).

Conclusions:

Baboon offspring from mothers with a WSD had increased expression of inflammatory markers compared to control diet mothers. These changes were mostly not significant, except for IL-6 and IFNγ. This hyperinflammatory state may place neonates at higher risk for insulin resistance, necrotizing enterocolitis, and other sequelae of the hyperinflammatory state.   Further research is warranted into clinical impact of this state and human correlation.