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Epigenetics, Asthma, and Allergic Diseases: A Review of the Latest Advancements

  • ASTHMA (WJ CALHOUN AND J BOUSQUET, SECTION EDITORS)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Environmental epigenetic regulation in asthma and allergic disease is an exciting area that has gained a great deal of scientific momentum in recent years. Environmental exposures, including prenatal maternal smoking, have been associated with asthma-related outcomes that may be explained by epigenetic regulation. In addition, several known allergy and asthma genes have been found to be susceptible to epigenetic regulation. We review the latest experimental and translational studies that have been published this past year in several areas, including 1) characterization of environmental asthma triggers that induce epigenetic changes, 2) characterization of allergic immune and regulatory pathways important to asthma that undergo epigenetic regulation, 3) evidence of active epigenetic regulation in asthma experimental models and the production of asthma biomarkers, 4) evidence of transmission of an asthma-related phenotype across multiple generations, and 5) “pharmaco-epigenetics.” The field has certainly advanced significantly in the past year.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as:• Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgments

Dr. Lovinsky-Desir has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health T32 Training Grant.

Dr. Miller has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Thrasher Foundation.

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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  1. Division of Pediatric Pulmonary, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Stephanie Lovinsky-Desir

  2. Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, PH8E-101; 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY, 10032, USA

    Rachel L. Miller

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Lovinsky-Desir, S., Miller, R.L. Epigenetics, Asthma, and Allergic Diseases: A Review of the Latest Advancements. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 12, 211–220 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-012-0257-4

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