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Journal Article Review Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Ppublish 14 citations

PubMed: 37741554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2023.09.011

Climate change and epigenetic biomarkers in allergic and airway diseases.

J Allergy Clin Immunol 152(5):1060-1072

Authors: Andres Cardenas, Raj Fadadu, Supinda Bunyavanich

Affiliations

  • Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.
  • School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, Calif.
  • Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, and Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.

Abstract

Human epigenetic variation is associated with both environmental exposures and allergic diseases and can potentially serve as a biomarker connecting climate change with allergy and airway diseases. In this narrative review, we summarize recent human epigenetic studies examining exposure to temperature, precipitation, extreme weather events, and malnutrition to discuss findings as they relate to allergic and airway diseases. Temperature has been the most widely studied exposure, with the studies implicating both short-term and long-term exposures with epigenetic alterations and epigenetic aging. Few studies have examined natural disasters or extreme weather events. The studies available have reported differential DNA methylation of multiple genes and pathways, some of which were previously associated with asthma or allergy. Few studies have integrated climate-related events, epigenetic biomarkers, and allergic disease together. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed along with the collection of target tissues beyond blood samples, such as nasal and skin cells. Finally, global collaboration to increase diverse representation of study participants, particularly those most affected by climate injustice, as well as strengthen replication, validation, and harmonization of measurements will be needed to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the human epigenome.

MeSH

Malnutrition, Epigenomics, Hypersensitivity, Climate, Extreme Weather, Weather, Biomarkers, Temperature, Allergy

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