Inhibition of thymocyte autophagy-associated CD4

Our previous studies demonstrated that prenatal caffeine exposure (PCE) caused thymopoiesis inhibition, immune disorders, and airway remodeling in offspring, which raises the question of whether PCE is a risk factor for postnatal asthma. Meanwhile, the mechanism of PCE-induced thymopoiesis inhibition is not clear yet. Considering caffeine's pro-autophagy effects (lacking evidence in thymus) and the important role of autophagy in maintaining thymopoiesis, this study aimed to investigate whether PCE contributes to asthma susceptibility, and further explore the molecular mechanisms of thymopoiesis inhibition from the perspective of pro-autophagy effects of caffeine both in vivo and in vitro. The PCE mouse model was established by 96 mg/kg/day caffeine administration from gestational day (GD) 9-GD 18, and an asthma model was established on the offspring by ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. The results confirmed our hypothesis that PCE could suppress pulmonary CD4