Michael Kabesch1. 1. aHannover Medical School, Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergy and Neonatology, Hannover, Member of the German Lung Research Center bDepartment of Pediatric Pneumology and Allergy, KUNO University Children's Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA control the accessibility of the genome and manage gene transcription in response to the environment in a heritable fashion. Recent evidence suggests that these mechanisms play a role in allergy and asthma. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we give an overview on recent developments in the field of asthma and allergy epigenetics with a special focus on the role of DNA methylation in these diseases, where finally, first pilot studies investigating differences in methylation pattern in patients have been published. Although these studies have to be interpreted with caution, it seems that methylation is affected by environmental stimuli such as prenatal smoke exposure and farming environments, whereas asthma status is associated with change in methylation in early childhood. SUMMARY: Early stage data from population studies indicate a role of methylation differences in asthma and allergy, whereas the exact impact of these epigenetic mechanisms on disease development needs to be elucidated further.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modification and microRNA control the accessibility of the genome and manage gene transcription in response to the environment in a heritable fashion. Recent evidence suggests that these mechanisms play a role in allergy and asthma. RECENT FINDINGS: Here, we give an overview on recent developments in the field of asthma and allergy epigenetics with a special focus on the role of DNA methylation in these diseases, where finally, first pilot studies investigating differences in methylation pattern in patients have been published. Although these studies have to be interpreted with caution, it seems that methylation is affected by environmental stimuli such as prenatal smoke exposure and farming environments, whereas asthma status is associated with change in methylation in early childhood. SUMMARY: Early stage data from population studies indicate a role of methylation differences in asthma and allergy, whereas the exact impact of these epigenetic mechanisms on disease development needs to be elucidated further.
Authors: Elaine A Cohen Hubal; David M Reif; Rachel Slover; Ashley Mullikin; John C Little Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2020-11-11 Impact factor: 3.390
Authors: Jayanta Gupta; Elisabet Johansson; Jonathan A Bernstein; Ranajit Chakraborty; Gurjit K Khurana Hershey; Marc E Rothenberg; Tesfaye B Mersha Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2016-06-11 Impact factor: 10.793