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Asthma Epigenetics: Elucidating an Expanding Paradigm

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Epigenetic Epidemiology

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Abstract

This chapter will cover key concepts related to epigenetic regulation of asthma and the disease’s environmental triggers, development, underlying immune pathways, and clinical course. Recent studies that include epigenetic mediation of the effects of exposures on risk factors on asthma will be stressed. Epigenetic regulation of asthma treatments and patient responses to interventions will be described. Among these topics, emphasis will be placed on the time windows of susceptibility. In general, this review suggests that despite continuing progress in this field, further rigorous studies of epigenetic mechanisms in asthma and its management are needed. Future studies may consider the temporality and duration of epigenetic regulation to strengthen the evolving understandings of epigenetics in asthma.

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Abbreviations

ACT:

Asthma Control Test

AEC:

Airway epithelial cells

ASMC:

Airway smooth muscle cell

Aza:

5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine

BBP:

Butyl benzyl phthalate

BMI:

Body mass index

CANDLE:

Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood Study

Der p :

Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus

DMR:

Differentially methylated region

EPIC:

European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition

eQTM:

Expression Quantitative Trait Methylation

FEF:

Forced expiratory flow

FeNO:

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide

FEV1:

Forced expiratory volume in one second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

H3K27me3:

H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation

IQR:

Interquartile range

IT:

Immunotherapy

LSC-R:

Life Stressor Checklist-Revised survey

miRNA:

MicroRNA

mMRC:

Modified Medical Research Council

NEC:

Nasal epithelial cells

OC:

Organic carbon

PACE:

Pregnancy and Childhood Epigenetics Consortium

PAH:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cell

PM10:

Coarse particulate matter

PM2.5:

Fine particulate matter

PSQ:

Perceived stress questionnaire

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

ROC:

Receiver operating characteristic

scaRNA:

Small Cajal body RNA

snoRNA:

Small nucleolar RNA

SNP:

Single-nucleotide polymorphism

Th:

T-helper

WGCNA:

Weighted gene correlation network analysis

α-SMA:

α-smooth muscle actin

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  1. Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Rachel L. Miller

  2. Harvard College, Cambridge, MA, USA

    James Chen

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  1. Department of Epidemiology, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, USA

    Karin B. Michels

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Miller, R.L., Chen, J. (2022). Asthma Epigenetics: Elucidating an Expanding Paradigm. In: Michels, K.B. (eds) Epigenetic Epidemiology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-94475-9_16

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