THE IMPACT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN DEVELOPMENT OF ASTHMA AND OTHER ALLERGIC DISEASES

Abstract

Allergic diseases – some of themost rapidly spreading pediatric illnesses in the western world. Allergy-inducing risk factors (various allergens, xenobiotics) and factors responsible for protection against allergies (microbes, diet) are well-known.
Pollution and smoking also influence the effect said factors have and when all are combined, they determine gene expression alterations in our body. Epigenetics explains the interaction between genes and the environment. In this article, we review the most prominent facts regarding the influence epigenetic modifications have in the development of allergic inflammation and asthma based on the most recent studies in genome and epigenome research. We strive to reveal the significance epigenetic
alterations may have on the clinical manifestation of allergies and to show their potential for diagnostics in the future. We provide evidence for how the analysis of epigenetics may be of service in the evaluation of the success of immunotherapy and
the effectiveness of asthma treatment in the near future. New technologies also allow for innovation in themethods of treatment, such as epigenetic editing.