Background-The genetic etiology of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) has been largely unexplored until a recent genome-wide association study identified a disease susceptibility locus on 5q22, a region that harbors the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) gene. However, it is unclear whether the observed genetic associations with EE are disease-specific or confounded by the high rate of

Background Given strong environmental influence on both epigenetic marks and allergic asthma in children, the epigenetic alterations in respiratory epithelia may provide insight into allergic asthma. Objective To identify DNA methylation and gene expression changes associated with childhood allergic persistent asthma. Methods We compared genomic DNA methylation patterns and gene expression in African American children with persistent atopic asthma[N=36] versus healthy controls[N=36]. Results were validated in an independent population of asthmatic children[N=30] using a shared healthy control population[N=36] and in independent population of Caucasian adult atopic asthmatics[N=12] and controls[N=12]. Results We identified 186 genes with significant methylation changes, differentially methylated regions(DMRs) or differentially methylated probes(DMPs), after adjustment for age, gender, race/ethnicity, batch effects, inflation, and multiple comparisons. Genes differentially methylated included those with established roles in asthma and atopy, genes related to extracellular matrix, immunity, cell adhesion, epigenetic regulation, and airflow obstruction. The methylation changes were substantial (median 9.5%, range:2.6–29.5%). Hypo- and hyper-methylated genes were associated with increased and decreased gene expression respectively (P<2.8x10−6 for DMRs and P<7.8x10−10 for DMPs). Quantitative analysis in 53 differentially expressed genes demonstrated that 32(60%) have significant methylation-expression relationships within 5kb of the gene. 10 loci selected based on the relevance to asthma, magnitude of methylation change, and methylation-expression relationships were validated in an independent cohort of children with atopic asthma. 67/186 genes also have significant asthma-associated methylation changes in nasal epithelia of adult Caucasian asthmatics. Conclusions Epigenetic marks in respiratory epithelia are associated with allergic asthma and gene expression changes in inner-city children.

Highlights d C. albicans intestinal colonization protects against C. albicans invasive infection d Systemic fungal-specific Th17 CD4 + T cell accumulation with intestinal colonization d Tonic neutrophil stimulation augments host defense against extracellular pathogens d Antimicrobial immunity balanced by susceptibility to allergic airway inflammation

The repair protein trefoil factor 2 promotes Th2 responses to helminth infection and allergens in part by inducing IL-33.

In children with allergic asthma, treatment with omalizumab decreased the duration of RV infections, viral shedding, and the risk of RV illnesses. These findings provide direct evidence that blocking IgE decreases susceptibility to RV infections and illness. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01430403).

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Rationale and ObjectiveAutophagy is a cellular process directed at eliminating or recycling cellular proteins. Recently, the autophagy pathway has been implicated in immune dysfunction, the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders, and response to viral infection. Associations between two genes in the autophagy pathway, ATG5 and ATG7, with childhood asthma were investigated.MethodsUsing genetic and experimental approaches, we examined the association of 13 HapMap-derived tagging SNPs in ATG5 and ATG7 with childhood asthma in 312 asthmatic and 246 non-allergic control children. We confirmed our findings by using independent cohorts and imputation analysis. Finally, we evaluated the functional relevance of a disease associated SNP.Measurements and Main ResultsWe demonstrated that ATG5 single nucleotide polymorphisms rs12201458 and rs510432 were associated with asthma (p = 0.00085 and 0.0025, respectively). In three independent cohorts, additional variants in ATG5 in the same LD block were associated with asthma (p<0.05). We found that rs510432 was functionally relevant and conferred significantly increased promotor activity. Furthermore, Atg5 expression was increased in nasal epithelium of acute asthmatics compared to stable asthmatics and non-asthmatic controls.ConclusionGenetic variants in ATG5, including a functional promotor variant, are associated with childhood asthma. These results provide novel evidence for a role for ATG5 in childhood asthma.

IL-17A is produced from Th17 cells, and is involved in many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The IL-13 receptor (IL-13R) has not previously been reported to be functionally expressed on T cells; however, we found that purified BALB/c CD4+ cells polarized to Th17 with TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-23 have increased mRNA and protein expression of IL-13Rα1 and mRNA expression of IL-4Rα compared to Th0, Th1, or Th2 polarized cells. The addition of IL-13 at Th17 polarization negatively regulated IL-17A and IL-21 expression, and reduced the number of CD4+ T cells producing IL-17A. Further, adding IL-13 at the time of Th17 cell restimulation attenuated IL-17A expression. CD4+ Th17 polarized cells from IL-4 KO mice also had IL-13-induced inhibition of IL-17A production, but this was not observed in IL-4R KO and STAT6 KO mice. Addition of IL-13 at polarization increased IL-13R expression in WT Th17 cells. Further, IL-13 administration during Th17 polarization downregulated ROR-γT, the transcription required for Th17 development; increased STAT6 phosphorylation, and upregulated GATA3, the transcription factor activated during the development of Th2 cells. This IL-13-mediated effect was specific to Th17 cells as IL-13 neither decreased IFN-γ expression by Th1 cells nor affected Th2 cell production of IL-4. Collectively, we have shown that Th17 cells express a functional IL-13R and that IL-13 negatively regulates IL-17A and IL-21 production by decreasing ROR-γT expression and while increasing phosphorylation of STAT6 and GATA3 expression. Therefore, therapeutic intervention inhibiting IL-13 production could have adverse consequences by upregulating Th17 inflammation in certain disease states.