Prevention of early postnatal hyperalimentation protects against activation of transforming growth factor-β/bone morphogenetic protein and interleukin-6 signaling in rat lungs after intrauterine growth restriction.

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction(IUGR) is intimately linked with postnatal catch-up growth, leading to impaired lung structure and function. However, the impact of catch-up growth induced by early postnatal hyperalimentation (HA) on the lung has not been addressed to date. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate whether prevention of HA subsequent to IUGR protects the lung from 1) deregulation of the transforming growth factor-b(TGF-b)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathway, 2) activation of interleukin (IL)-6 signaling, and 3) profibrotic processes. Methods: IUGR was induced in Wistar rats by isocaloric protein restriction during gestation by feeding a control (Co) or a low-protein dietwith 17% or 8% casein, respectively. On postnatal day 1 (P1), litters from both groups were randomly reduced to 6 pups per dam to induce HA or adjusted to 10 pups and fed with standard diet: Co, Co with HA (Co-HA), IUGR, and IUGR with HA (IUGR-HA). Results: Birth weights in rats after IUGR were lower than in Co rats (P < 0.05). HA during lactation led to accelerated body weight gain from P1 to P23 (Co vs. Co-HA, IUGR vs. IUGR-HA; P < 0.05). At P70, prevention of HA after IUGR protected against the following: 1) activation of both TGF-b [phosphorylated SMAD (pSMAD) 2; plasminogen activator inhibitor 1(Pai1)] and BMP signaling [pSMAD1; inhibitor of differentiation (Id1)] compared with Co (P< 0.05) and Co or IUGR (P< 0.05) rats, respectively; 2)greatermRNA expression of interleukin (Il )6a ndIl13 (P < 0.05) as well as activation of signal transducer and activator of tr anscription 3( STAT3) signaling (P < 0.05) after IUGR-HA; and 3) greater gene expression of collagen Ia1 and osteopontin(P < 0.05) and increased deposition of bronchial subepithelial connective tissue in IUGR-HA compared with Co and IUGR rats. Moreover, HA had a significant additive effect (P < 0.05) on the increased enhanced pause (indicator of airway resistance) in the IUGR group (P < 0.05) at P70. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a dual mechanism in IUGR-associated lung disease that is 1) IUGR-dependent and 2) HA-mediated and thereby offers new avenues to develop innovative preventive strategies for perinatal programming of adult lung diseases. J Nutr 2014;144:1943‐51.