Title: Early-life origin of intestinal inflammatory disorders
| Authors: | Ley D, Desseyn JL, Mischke M, Knol J, Turck D, Gottrand F |
| Published: | 2017 |
| Journal: | Nutrition Reviews |
A growing body of evidence supports the concept of perinatal programming through which the perinatal environment affects the development of the foetus and infant, thereby modifying the risk profile for disease later in life, including the development of chronic intestinal disorders.
This review first provides an overview of the perinatal maturation of the intestinal barrier and the role of the intestinal microbiota in shaping intestinal barrier function. Next, the existing evidence from clinical and experimental studies of the perinatal programming of intestinal inflammatory disorders is described, with a focus on IBD and celiac disease. Finally, the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the developmental origin of intestinal inflammatory disorders is examined.
Epidemiological studies have highlighted the link between perinatal factors, such as breastfeeding, cesarean delivery, antibiotic use, and an increased risk for inflammatory bowel disease and/or celiac disease. These links are consistent with the concept of perinatal programming of intestinal inflammatory disorders. Animal models have shown that the early-life environment affects the development of the gastrointestinal tract, but further experimental studies are needed to confirm the long-term effects of the perinatal environment on susceptibility to chronic intestinal disorders later in life. Changes in the development and composition of the intestinal microbiota as well as epigenetic changes are emerging as key mechanisms through which the perinatal environment determines susceptibility to intestinal inflammatory disorders.