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Umweltinduzierte frühe Prägung von Asthma und Epigenetik

Early programming and environmental epigenetics of asthma

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Zusammenfassung

Der Begriff der frühen Prägung beschreibt die Mechanismen, wie bestimmte Umweltexpositionen während kritischer, früher Entwicklungsfenster einen langfristig prägenden Einfluss auf spätere Erkrankungsrisiken des Kindes haben und wie dieser Effekt – auch nach Ausbleiben der Exposition – über Generationen weitergegeben wird. Neue Erkenntnisse zu diesen Mechanismen eröffnen prinzipiell die Möglichkeit einer gezielten, therapeutischen Reprogrammierung, um damit der Entstehung von Asthma vorzubeugen. Krankheitsprägung wird durch epigenetische Mechanismen – d. h. vererbbare Genmodifikationen, welche die DNA-Sequenz unberührt lassen – vermittelt. Epidemiologischen Studien belegten, dass pränatale Expositionen, wie Ernährung, immunstimulierende Agenzien oder Rauchen während der Schwangerschaft, das Asthmarisiko des Kindes beeinflussen. Kürzlich wurde erstmals nachgewiesen, dass Ernährung oder Abgasexposition während der Schwangerschaft via epigenetische Veränderungen mit kindlichem Asthma assoziiert sind und dieses Asthmarisiko bis in die 2. Generation vererbt wird. Das Potenzial neuer Erkenntnisse zu einer epigenetisch vermittelten, frühen Prägung von Asthma liegt in der Entwicklung präsymptomatischer Präventionsstrategien.

Abstract

The term “early programming” describes the mechanisms by which specific environmental exposures during critical periods of early development have a long-term impact on a child’s disease risks in later life. Moreover, this effect is passed on across generations even after discontinuation of the exposure. Understanding these mechanisms offers the potential of targeted therapeutic reprogramming in order to prevent asthma. Programming of diseases is caused by epigenetic mechanisms. These are heritable gene modifications that leave the DNA sequence untouched but can nonetheless be transferred to the next generation. The influence of prenatal exposures during pregnancy, such as nutrition, immune stimulatory substances or tobacco smoke on a child’s risk for asthma has been highlighted in epidemiologic studies. Only recently, it was shown for the first time that exposure to nutrients or exhaust fumes in utero leads to epigenetic changes and is directly associated with asthma risk in children. This risk was transmitted across two generations. The potential of this new insight into epigenetically mediated early programming of asthma offers novel opportunities for the development of pre-symptomatic preventive strategies.

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  1. Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt, Kinderklinik und Kinderpoliklinik, Dr. von Haunersches Kinderspital & Helmholtz Zentrum München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Lindwurmstraße 2a, 80337, München, Deutschland

    S. Krauss-Etschmann , M.K. Aneja & N. Schulz

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  1. S. Krauss-Etschmann
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  2. M.K. Aneja
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  3. N. Schulz
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Correspondence to S. Krauss-Etschmann .

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Krauss-Etschmann , S., Aneja, M. & Schulz, N. Umweltinduzierte frühe Prägung von Asthma und Epigenetik. Monatsschr Kinderheilkd 158, 142–148 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-009-2084-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00112-009-2084-9

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