Maria C Jenmalm1. 1. Division of Inflammation Medicine, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. maria.jenmalm@liu.se
Abstract
PROBLEM: The increasing allergy prevalence in affluent countries may be caused by reduced microbial stimulation, resulting in an abnormal post-natal immune maturation. Most studies investigating the underlying mechanisms have focused on post-natal microbial exposure. Also, the maternal microbial environment during pregnancy may program the immune development of the child, however. METHOD OF STUDY: This review focuses on how maternal immunity and microbial exposures regulate childhood immune and allergy development. RESULTS: Prenatal environmental exposures may alter gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms, aiming to induce physiological adaptations to the anticipated post-natal environment, but potentially also increasing disease susceptibility in the offspring. Although the importance of fetal programming mostly has been studied in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, this hypothesis is also very attractive in the context of environmentally influenced immune-mediated diseases. CONCLUSION: Efficacious preventive measures, required to combat the allergy epidemic, may be identified by determining how the immune interaction between mother and child is influenced by microbial factors.
PROBLEM: The increasing allergy prevalence in affluent countries may be caused by reduced microbial stimulation, resulting in an abnormal post-natal immune maturation. Most studies investigating the underlying mechanisms have focused on post-natal microbial exposure. Also, the maternal microbial environment during pregnancy may program the immune development of the child, however. METHOD OF STUDY: This review focuses on how maternal immunity and microbial exposures regulate childhood immune and allergy development. RESULTS: Prenatal environmental exposures may alter gene expression via epigenetic mechanisms, aiming to induce physiological adaptations to the anticipated post-natal environment, but potentially also increasing disease susceptibility in the offspring. Although the importance of fetal programming mostly has been studied in cardiovascular and metabolic disease, this hypothesis is also very attractive in the context of environmentally influenced immune-mediated diseases. CONCLUSION: Efficacious preventive measures, required to combat the allergy epidemic, may be identified by determining how the immune interaction between mother and child is influenced by microbial factors.
Authors: Juan Miguel Rodríguez; Kiera Murphy; Catherine Stanton; R Paul Ross; Olivia I Kober; Nathalie Juge; Ekaterina Avershina; Knut Rudi; Arjan Narbad; Maria C Jenmalm; Julian R Marchesi; Maria Carmen Collado Journal: Microb Ecol Health Dis Date: 2015-02-02
Authors: Daniel Munblit; Priya Abrol; Shreya Sheth; Li Yan Chow; Ekaterina Khaleva; Alan Asmanov; Silvana Lauriola; Ezio M Padovani; Pasquale Comberiati; Attilio L Boner; John O Warner; Robert J Boyle; Diego G Peroni Journal: Nutrients Date: 2018-09-03 Impact factor: 5.717
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