# Maternal 12-HETE is associated with childhood asthma and the responses to prenatal omega-3 supplementation

## TL;DR

Low levels of a fatty acid called 12-HETE in mothers during pregnancy may increase children's asthma risk, and omega-3 supplements may help if 12-HETE is present.

## Contribution

Identifies maternal 12-HETE as a potential biomarker for childhood asthma risk and response to prenatal omega-3 supplementation.

## Key findings

- Low maternal 12-HETE levels during pregnancy are linked to higher childhood asthma and respiratory infection risks.
- Prenatal omega-3 intake reduces asthma risk in children only when maternal 12-HETE is detectable.
- 12-HETE levels correlate with infant airway microbiota and immune profiles.

## Abstract

A recent mouse study has shown that deficiency in 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) affects neonatal alveolar macrophage imprinting and associates with increased respiratory morbidity, but this has not been investigated in humans. Utilizing data from two mother-child cohorts, COPSAC2010 and VDAART, we demonstrate that undetectable maternal plasma 12-HETE during pregnancy associates with increased risk of childhood asthma and respiratory infections alongside an altered infant airway microbiota structure and airway immune profile. Further, we observed an interaction between maternal 12-HETE levels and maternal N-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 LCPUFA) supplementation in a randomized clinical trial in COPSAC2010 and maternal dietary n-3 LCPUFA intake in VDAART in relation to offspring respiratory morbidity; higher prenatal n-3 LCPUFA exposure reduced asthma and respiratory infection among mothers with detectable 12-HETE levels. These findings identify maternal 12-HETE as a potential biomarker for risk of offspring respiratory morbidity and suggest that maternal 12-HETE status may determine responsiveness to prenatal n-3 LCPUFA supplementation.

•Maternal 12-HETE levels associate with childhood asthma risk•Maternal 12-HETE levels relate to infant airway microbiota and immune patterns•Higher prenatal n-3 LCPUFA intake reduced childhood asthma risk in offspring•Effect of prenatal n-3 LCPUFA intake varies by maternal 12-HETE status

Maternal 12-HETE levels associate with childhood asthma risk

Maternal 12-HETE levels relate to infant airway microbiota and immune patterns

Higher prenatal n-3 LCPUFA intake reduced childhood asthma risk in offspring

Effect of prenatal n-3 LCPUFA intake varies by maternal 12-HETE status

Across two birth cohorts, Liang et al. found that maternal 12-HETE levels during pregnancy associate with childhood asthma and respiratory infections alongside altered infant airway microbiota and immune patterns. Effect of prenatal n-3 LCPUFA intake varies by maternal 12-HETE status, suggesting 12-HETE as a potential biomarker for precision prevention.