Allergies to food and airborne allergens in children and adolescents: role of epigenetics in a changing environment

Erik Melén, Gerard H. Koppelman, Ana Maria Vicedo-Cabrera, Zorana Jovanovic Andersen, Supinda Bunyavanich

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Allergic diseases affect millions of children and adolescents worldwide. In this Review, we focus on allergies to food and airborne allergens and provide examples of prevalence trends during a time when climate change is of increasing concern. Profound environmental changes have affected natural systems in terms of biodiversity loss, air pollution, and climate. We discuss the potential links between these changes and allergic diseases in children, and the clinical implications. Several exposures of relevance for allergic disease also correlate with epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation. We propose that epigenetics could be a promising tool by which exposures and hazards related to a changing environment can be captured. Epigenetics might also provide promising biomarkers and help to elucidate the mechanisms related to allergic disease initiation and progress.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)810-819
Number of pages10
JournalThe Lancet Child and Adolescent Health
Volume6
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2022

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