Lessons learned from birth cohort studies conducted in diverse environments

Abstract

Birth cohort studies have produced significant advances toward understanding how genetic and environmental factors contribute to the inception of asthma and related allergic diseases. Histopathologic, physiologic, microbiologic, and immunologic findings indicate that critical developmental windows exist in which these various factors either alone or in concert induce the expression of the childhood asthma phenotype. The microbiome in early life clearly influences immune development and asthma. Early environmental exposures, including those related to the home, parents, siblings, pets, and pests, are all likely to influence patterns of microbial colonization and also might shape immune responses to allergens and viruses. As with other contributing factors, there appear to be windows of opportunity in early life when microbial exposures have the greatest effect on these processes. Recent studies of bacterial metabolic products and their effects might suggest new strategies for immune modulation in early life.

The respiratory tract microbiome and its relationship to lung cancer and environmental exposures found in rural china

“…Our observed suggestion of microbiome diversity differences in sputum among lung cancer cases compared to controls is similar to that observed in our previous small exploratory study (Hosgood 3rd et al, ). This study adds to the emerging hypothesis that the respiratory tract microbiota may contribute to the risk of respiratory diseases, such as asthma and COPD (Sze et al, ; Burbank et al, ; Jackson et al, ). While no other study has yet to report that decreased diversity is associated with increased risk of lung cancer, other research groups have observed (1) that malignant lung cancer tissues have lower alpha diversity compared to nonmalignant tissues (Yu et al, ), and (2) decreased alpha diversity in sputum has been shown to be associated with increased severity of certain types of COPD exacerbations (Wang et al, ).…”

Cohort Profile: The LoewenKIDS Study – life-course perspective on infections, the microbiome and the development of the immune system in early childhood

“…microbial) exposures. 4,6 Furthermore, infections with different respiratory viruses (e.g. rhinovirus, enterovirus and adenovirus) in infancy influence the development of chronic and immune-mediated diseases like asthma, type 1 diabetes and obesity in later life.…”

Cord blood soluble Fas ligand linked to allergic rhinitis and lung function in seven-year-old children

“…4,5 Many birth cohort studies have investigated the link between perinatal exposure and the outcomes of atopic diseases in an attempt to identify possible predictive biomarkers. 6,7 Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) interaction is an important pathway in inducing apoptosis. However, soluble Fas ligand, cleaved from the membrane-formed Fas ligand by matrix metalloproteinases, participates in the in ammatory reactions of rheumatic and allergic diseases.…”