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Environment and Autoimmunity: Facts and Gaps

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Environmental Influences on the Immune System

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases are comprehensive models of complex conditions in which an individual’s genetic susceptibility is necessary but not sufficient to explain disease onset, perpetuation, and severity. This is well represented by the variable but invariably incomplete concordance rates for all autoimmune diseases in monozygotic twins. In the broad group of autoimmune diseases, heritability ranges between 0.008 and 1 with median values of approximately 0.60. A complementary term coined “environmentability” may well represent the environmental influence on the individual phenotype and can include dietary habits, chemicals, or hygienic conditions via several molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. Numerous environmental factors have been proposed for systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) convened an expert panel workshop to review the body of literature examining the role of the environment in the development of autoimmune disease and to identify conclusions, certainties, and critical knowledge gaps in this area. The results of the workshop and the literature illustrate that several kinds of epidemiological, mechanistic, and model evidence support specific chemical and physical factors as well as infectious agents.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy

    Angela Ceribelli & Elena Generali

  2. BIOMETRA Department, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Angela Ceribelli

  3. Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center, via A. Manzoni 56, Rozzano, Milan, 20089, Italy

    Carlo Selmi MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Angela Ceribelli
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  2. Elena Generali
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  3. Carlo Selmi MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlo Selmi MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Düsseldorf, IUF–Leibniz Res Inst for Env Med, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Charlotte Esser

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Ceribelli, A., Generali, E., Selmi, C. (2016). Environment and Autoimmunity: Facts and Gaps. In: Esser, C. (eds) Environmental Influences on the Immune System. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1890-0_13

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