Review Series 10.1172/JCI124612

Environmental exposures and mechanisms in allergy and asthma development

Liza Bronner Murrison,1,2 Eric B. Brandt,1 Jocelyn Biagini Myers,1,2 and Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey1,2

1Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

2Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Address correspondence to: Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Phone: 513.636.7054; Email: Gurjit.Hershey@cchmc.org.

Find articles by Murrison, L. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar | Orcid 24x24

1Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

2Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Address correspondence to: Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Phone: 513.636.7054; Email: Gurjit.Hershey@cchmc.org.

Find articles by Brandt, E. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

2Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Address correspondence to: Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Phone: 513.636.7054; Email: Gurjit.Hershey@cchmc.org.

Find articles by Myers, J. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

1Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

2Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

Address correspondence to: Gurjit K. Khurana Hershey, Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, MLC 7037, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA. Phone: 513.636.7054; Email: Gurjit.Hershey@cchmc.org.

Find articles by Hershey, G. in: JCI | PubMed | Google Scholar

First published February 11, 2019 - More info

Published in Volume 129, Issue 4 on April 1, 2019
J Clin Invest. 2019;129(4):1504–1515. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI124612.
© 2019 American Society for Clinical Investigation
First published February 11, 2019 - Version history

Environmental exposures interplay with human host factors to promote the development and progression of allergic diseases. The worldwide prevalence of allergic disease is rising as a result of complex gene-environment interactions that shape the immune system and host response. Research shows an association between the rise of allergic diseases and increasingly modern Westernized lifestyles, which are characterized by increased urbanization, time spent indoors, and antibiotic usage. These environmental changes result in increased exposure to air and traffic pollution, fungi, infectious agents, tobacco smoke, and other early-life and lifelong risk factors for the development and exacerbation of asthma and allergic diseases. It is increasingly recognized that the timing, load, and route of allergen exposure affect allergic disease phenotypes and development. Still, our ability to prevent allergic diseases is hindered by gaps in understanding of the underlying mechanisms and interaction of environmental, viral, and allergen exposures with immune pathways that impact disease development. This Review highlights epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence linking environmental exposures to the development and exacerbation of allergic airway responses.

Preview pages

Reset
1505 Page 1504 Back

Continue reading with a subscription.

A subscription is required for you to read this article in full. If you are a subscriber, you may sign in to continue reading.

Already subscribed?

Click here to sign into your account.

Don't have a subscription?

Please select one of the subscription options, which includes a low-cost option just for this article.

At an institution or library?

If you are at an institution or library and believe you should have access, please check with your librarian or administrator (more information).

Problems?

Please try these troubleshooting tips.

  • Purchase this article
  • $10
  • Purchasing this article will give you full access for the calendar year.
  • Purchase article
  • Purchase Site Pass
  • $25
  • This will give you access to every article on the site for 24 hours.
  • Order site pass
  • Online subscription
  • $95
  • Individual online subscriptions give you full online access for the calendar year.
  • Order Online
  • Print subscription
  • $795
  • Individual print subscriptions give you the print journal and full online access for the year.
  • Print + Online
  • JCI This Month subscription
  • $125
  • JCI This Month is a 16- to 20-page overview of the articles published each month
  • Subscribing to JCI This Month also gives subscribers full online access for the calendar year.
  • *Price outside U.S. and Canada: $225.
  • JCI This Month + Online
Advertisement