A recent study from Monash University has uncovered a potential link between early exposure to antibiotics and long-term vulnerability to asthma, while also identifying a promising preventive measure. Led by Professor Ben Marsland and published in the journal Immunity, the study highlights the role of a molecule called indolepropionic acid (IPA), produced by gut bacteria, in asthma prevention.
Asthma is a significant global health issue, affecting around 260 million people and causing approximately 455,000 deaths annually. Professor Marsland’s research provides crucial insights into why the recurrent use of antibiotics in early childhood increases the risk of developing asthma. According to the study, antibiotics disrupt the healthy gut microbiota, leading to a decrease in IPA-producing bacteria. This depletion of IPA, a molecule critical for preventing asthma, explains the heightened risk.
The first years of life are pivotal in establishing a stable gut microbiota, influenced by factors such as diet, genetics, and environmental exposures. Infants at high risk for allergies and asthma often show disrupted and delayed gut microbiome maturation. Professor Marsland emphasized that antibiotics used in the first year of life can unintentionally reduce beneficial bacteria, thereby lowering IPA levels. This reduction is significant because IPA is crucial for the maturation of lung cells and the prevention of allergic airway inflammation.
The study involved experiments with mice predisposed to asthma. When given antibiotics early in life, these mice exhibited increased susceptibility to house-dust mite-induced allergic airway inflammation, a common asthma trigger, lasting into adulthood. This susceptibility persisted even after the gut microbiome and IPA levels normalized, underscoring the molecule’s importance in early life.
Remarkably, when the researchers supplemented the mice’s diet with IPA early in life, it effectively prevented the development of house-dust mite-induced asthma in adulthood. This finding suggests that IPA supplementation could be a potential simple therapy to prevent asthma in children, offering a promising new avenue for asthma prevention.
The study demonstrates that early-life antibiotic exposure can lead to a long-term increase in asthma risk due to the depletion of IPA-producing gut bacteria. Supplementing with IPA might provide a novel, preventive strategy against asthma, highlighting the significance of maintaining a healthy gut microbiome during early childhood.
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