Prenatal SEB Exposure Triggers Biphasic Notch Signaling Modulation in Offspring Thymus From Neonatal Suppression to Adult Activation
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Notch signaling pathway modulates immune function by regulating T cell development, differentiation, and function. Previous studies from our group have demonstrated that maternal exposure to staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) during pregnancy alters T cell frequencies in offspring. To further investigate the underlying mechanisms, we examined the impact of prenatal SEB exposure on the Notch signaling pathway, a critical regulator of thymic T cell maturation. In this study, pregnant rats were injected with 15 μg SEB on gestational day 16. Thymus tissues were aseptically collected from 14-day-old and 3-month-old offspring in both the PBS and SEB-exposed groups. The expression of Notch pathway components-including receptors, ligands, and downstream target genes-was assessed using real-time PCR and western blot. It was found that prenatal SEB exposure significantly downregulated mRNA and protein levels of Notch receptors and target genes in thymic T lymphocytes in neonatal offspring. Additionally, ligand expression was reduced in thymic stromal cells. Strikingly, this suppression was reversed in adulthood, with SEB-exposed offspring exhibiting elevated expression of Notch receptors, ligands, and target genes. These results indicate that prenatal SEB exposure transiently inhibits Notch signaling in neonatal thymocytes but leads to a compensatory upregulation in adulthood. This biphasic modulation suggests that prenatal SEB exposure can induce long-term, dynamic reprogramming of thymic Notch signaling, with potential implications for T cell-mediated immunity across developmental stages.
Source: Journal of Applied Toxicology
DOI: 10.1002/jat.70101
Authors: Shu‐xian Gao, Ao‐ao Liu, Yu‐ting Zhu, Jia‐bao Zhao, Yin‐xing Shi, Ping Zhou, Jun‐chang Guan
Institutions: Bengbu Medical College, Chinese People's Liberation Army
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7128720853