Risk factors for food allergy

Schuller, Diane E.

doi:10.1007/s11882-004-0008-2

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 74 publications

(70 reference statements)

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“…While the risk of food hypersensitivity has both prenatal and postnatal risk factors (Schuller, 2005), at least part of the early life risk appears to be predictable based on immune functional profiles at birth. Prescott et al (2008) found that cord blood monocytes stimulated with TLR‐2, 4, and 5 activators produced more IL‐6 among children who would develop food allergy at 12 months of age compared with those who were non‐allergic in later life.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early‐life environment, developmental immunotoxicology, and the risk of pediatric allergic disease including asthma

Dietert

Zelikoff

2008

Birth Defects Research Pt B

106

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Incidence of childhood allergic disease including asthma (AD-A) has risen since the mid-20th century with much of the increase linked to changes in environment affecting the immune system. Childhood allergy is an early life disease where predisposing environmental exposures, sensitization, and onset of symptoms all occur before adulthood. Predisposition toward allergic disease (AD) is among the constellation of adverse outcomes following developmental immunotoxicity (DIT; problematic exposure of the developing immune system to xenobiotics and physical environmental factors). Because novel immune maturation events occur in early life, and the pregnancy state itself imposes certain restrictions on immune functional development, the period from mid-gestation until 2 years after birth is one of particular concern relative to DIT and AD-A. Several prenatal-perinatal risk factors have been identified as contributing to a DIT-mediated immune dysfunction and increased risk of AD. These include maternal smoking, environmental tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust and traffic-related particles, heavy metals, antibiotics, environmental estrogens and other endocrine disruptors, and alcohol. Diet and microbial exposure also significantly influence immune maturation and risk of allergy. This review considers (1) the critical developmental windows of vulnerability for the immune system that appear to be targets for risk of AD, (2) a model in which the immune system of the DIT-affected infant exhibits immune dysfunction skewed toward AD, and (3) the lack of allergy-relevant safety testing of drugs and chemicals that could identify DIT hazards and minimize problematic exposure of pregnant women and children.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%