The role of epigenetics in allergy and asthma development

Abstract

Purpose of review Epigenetic mechanisms are known to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy, and other allergic disorders, especially through mediating the effects of the environmental factors, well recognized allergy-risk modifiers. The aim of this work was to provide a concise but comprehensive review of the recent progress in the epigenetics of allergic diseases. Recent findings Recent few years have substantially expanded our knowledge on the role of epigenetics in the pathogenesis and clinical picture of allergies. Specifically, it has been shown that epigenetic marks, especially DNA methylation, possess a diagnostic potential for atopic sensitization, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food allergy. DNA methylation can be a predictor of clinical responses in controlled allergen challenges, including oral food challenges. Furthermore, direct or indirect targeting epigenetic mechanisms, this time especially histone modifications, was able to favorably affect expression of the genes underlying allergies and generally improve airway biology in allergic diseases or their animal models. Summary Further studies are needed to explore the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of epigenetic modifications in allergies and to develop respective clinical tools.

Induction of Rabies Virus Infection in Mice Brain may Up and Down Regulate Type II Interferon gamma via epigenetic modifications

“…Methylation at the fifth position of cytosine (5 mC) in DNA is a wellestablished epigenetic mark. It is distributed across the genome generally at CpG dinucleotides, which can occur in clusters known as CpG islands (Alashkar et al 2019). The major role of DNA methylation in mammals is to repress gene expression by recruiting different silencing protein complexes, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), which in turn can block the transcription machinery (Alashkar et al 2019).…”

“…It is distributed across the genome generally at CpG dinucleotides, which can occur in clusters known as CpG islands (Alashkar et al 2019). The major role of DNA methylation in mammals is to repress gene expression by recruiting different silencing protein complexes, such as histone deacetylases (HDACs), which in turn can block the transcription machinery (Alashkar et al 2019). Histone acetylation status is regulated by two groups of enzymes exerting opposite effects, histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs).…”

The Impact of Milk and Its Components on Epigenetic Programming of Immune Function in Early Life and Beyond: Implications for Allergy and Asthma

“…Environmental factors can interact with genes involved in asthma and allergy development via epigenetic mechanisms, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. These epigenetic mechanisms can regulate gene expression by modifying the accessibility of the DNA to transcription enzymes without altering the DNA nucleotide sequence (30,33). In addition to the consumption of raw cow's milk (22)(23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29), contact with livestock and animal feed along with other farm-related exposures have shown independent protective effects, indicating that a farm/country lifestyle can contributes to a reduced risk of asthma and allergies in children (25,27,(88)(89)(90).…”

“…The transfer of a methyl group onto DNA, performed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), can directly regulate the rate of gene transcription. DNA demethylation is catalyzed by several enzymes serving as controllers for the equilibrium of DNA methylation (33). For example, methylation of DNA in the promoter regions of cytokines can influence immune responsiveness by steering Th cell differentiation into Th1, Th2, Th17, or Treg (34,35).…”

Epigenetic Regulation of Airway Epithelium Immune Functions in Asthma

“…While the methylation reaction is catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases, ten-eleven translocation (TET) methylcytosine dioxygenase family proteins mediate DNA demethylation. DNA methylation is typically associated with gene repression (3,17). In addition to the classical epigenetic modifications mentioned above, different types of the non-coding RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and others, for instance, piwi-interacting RNAs or small nucleolar RNAs, are involved in the epigenetic regulation of gene expression.…”