Epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation, histone modification, and microRNA regulate genome accessibility and govern gene transcription in a heritable manner in response to environmental cues. According to new research, these processes have a role in allergy and asthma.
Researchers provide an overview of recent developments in the field of asthma and allergy epigenetics, with a special emphasis on the role of DNA methylation in these diseases, and finally, the results of the first pilot studies investigating differences in methylation pattern in patients have been published. Although these findings should be taken with caution, it appears that environmental cues such as prenatal smoking exposure and agricultural contexts alter methylation, whereas asthma status is connected with methylation changes in early infancy.
Early evidence from population studies suggests that methylation variations have a role in asthma and allergy development, but the precise influence of these epigenetic pathways on disease development has to be determined further.
Reference:journals.lww.com/co-allergy/Abstract/2014/02000/Epigenetics_in_asthma_and_allergy.12.aspx
