Funding outcome

Early-life sepsis (blood poisoning) leads to 1.4 million deaths annually. Preterm babies are at higher risk for developing early-life sepsis due to an immature immune system which can adversely affect their cardiovascular development and impose them to health complications in adulthood. Iron deficiency (ID) is the major contributor to preterm birth in pregnant women. Babies born to iron deficient-pregnancies are at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in later life. However, it is not known if exposure to early-life sepsis further exacerbates cardiovascular complications in these babies in adulthood. We aim to study how ID during pregnancy affects vascular function development in the offspring and if exposure to early-life sepsis can exacerbate these complications. We will be feeding pregnant rats a diet low in iron and abdominal sepsis will be induced in the offspring 4 days after birth when babies are more susceptible to sepsis development. Offspring will be monitored for vascular, kidney, and heart dysfunction 3 and 6 days later. Moreover, the effect of ID during pregnancy in combination with early-life sepsis on the cardiovascular health of offspring in adulthood will also be studied. Offspring born to iron-deficient or normal pregnancies will be exposed to sepsis, aged to 6 months, and heart and vascular function will be assessed. Due to the prevalence of ID in pregnant women and the high prevalence of early-life sepsis in newborns, these health issues are likely important contributors to the global burden of CVD. Targeted treatments for these conditions during neonatal life may profoundly improve survival and promote better health for future generations.