Objecti

ve      To investigate the effects of 1α

25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD3) supplement during pregnancy on allergic airway inflammation of its offspring in a mouse allergic asthma model.       Methods      Thirty eight-week-old BALB/c mice were kept according to gender proportion (female/male: 2/1)

and were randomly divided into 5 groups (6 mice per group): control

asthma group

50 ng VitD3 group (50 ng group)

100 ng VitD3 group (100 ng group)

and 150 ng VitD3 group (150 ng group). Observing the fertilization condition of female mice

day zero (D0) was recorded when vaginal plug was found. The pregnant mice in the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group were treated with subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL VitD3 of corresponding dose from D0 to D20 (every other day). The pregnant mice in the control and the asthma group were treated in the same way but with 0.1 mL saline. The female offspring mice were selected to continue the study

6 in each group. The asthma group

the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group mice were treated by intra-peritoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA

0.05 mg) and aluminum hydroxide (5 μg) as an adjuvant on D0 and D2 in order to establish the mouse allergic asthma model. These sensitized mice were kept in a closed container (25 cm×12 cm×12 cm)

and challenged with 1% OVA 15 mL 30 min per day from D7 to D12. For analysis

all mice were sacrificed in 24 h after the last challenge. Histopathological analysis was performed on each mouse per group with HE staining. The number of cells and their classification in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assayed. Levels of IFN-γ

IL-4

and IL-5 in BALF as well as serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) were measured by ELISA.       Results      According to the pathological sections of lung

the inflammation conditions of the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group were eased as compared to the asthma group. Comparing with the asthma group

both total cells and the percentage of eosinophile (EOS) were decreased in BALF in th

e 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group

showing statistical difference from those in the asthma group (

P

0.05) and negative dose dependency with statistical difference (

P

0.05). The levels of IL-4 and IL-5 in BALF of the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group were greatly decreased

showing statistical difference from those in the asthma group (

P

0.05) and negative dose dependency with statistical difference (

P

0.05). The levels of IFN-γ of the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group were increased

showing statistical difference from those in the asthma group (

P

0.05) and negative dose dependency with statistical difference (

P

0.05). The levels of serum IgE of the 50 ng group

the 100 ng group and the 150 ng group were greatly decreased

showing statistical difference from those in the asthma group (

P

0.05) and negative dose dependency with statistical difference (

P

0.05).       Conclusion      VitD3 supply during maternal pregnancy alleviates offspring allergic airway inflammation of a mouse allergic asthma model in a dose-dependent manner.