Abstract
Purpose of review: The increase in incidence and prevalence of allergic disease remains a mystery and cannot be explained solely by genetic factors. The hygiene hypothesis provides the strongest epidemiological explanation for the rise in allergic disease. This review evaluates the recent epidemiological and mechanistic research in the role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of or protection from allergic disease. Recent findings: Recent literature has extended the epidemiological findings of the protective effect of being born and reared in a farm environment and associates an increased diversity of organisms in house-dust samples with protection from allergic disease. Furthermore, human and animal studies provide increasing evidence for the role of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, including regulatory cells, as mediators of this protective effect. Summary: There is evidence that exposure to some infectious organisms can protect from atopy, whereas other infections appear to promote allergic diseases. The timing of exposure to infection and the properties of the infectious agent, in addition to the genetic susceptibility of the host, play an important role in the future development of allergic disease.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 98-102 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Current opinion in pediatrics |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- allergy
- farm-rearing
- hygiene hypothesis
- infection
- regulatory cells
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
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The hygiene hypothesis revisited : Does exposure to infectious agents protect us from allergy? / Fishbein, Anna; Fuleihan, Ramsay L.
In: Current opinion in pediatrics, Vol. 24, No. 1, 01.02.2012, p. 98-102.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - The hygiene hypothesis revisited
T2 - Does exposure to infectious agents protect us from allergy?
AU - Fishbein, Anna
AU - Fuleihan, Ramsay L
PY - 2012/2/1
Y1 - 2012/2/1
N2 - Purpose of review: The increase in incidence and prevalence of allergic disease remains a mystery and cannot be explained solely by genetic factors. The hygiene hypothesis provides the strongest epidemiological explanation for the rise in allergic disease. This review evaluates the recent epidemiological and mechanistic research in the role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of or protection from allergic disease. Recent findings: Recent literature has extended the epidemiological findings of the protective effect of being born and reared in a farm environment and associates an increased diversity of organisms in house-dust samples with protection from allergic disease. Furthermore, human and animal studies provide increasing evidence for the role of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, including regulatory cells, as mediators of this protective effect. Summary: There is evidence that exposure to some infectious organisms can protect from atopy, whereas other infections appear to promote allergic diseases. The timing of exposure to infection and the properties of the infectious agent, in addition to the genetic susceptibility of the host, play an important role in the future development of allergic disease.
AB - Purpose of review: The increase in incidence and prevalence of allergic disease remains a mystery and cannot be explained solely by genetic factors. The hygiene hypothesis provides the strongest epidemiological explanation for the rise in allergic disease. This review evaluates the recent epidemiological and mechanistic research in the role of infectious agents in the pathogenesis of or protection from allergic disease. Recent findings: Recent literature has extended the epidemiological findings of the protective effect of being born and reared in a farm environment and associates an increased diversity of organisms in house-dust samples with protection from allergic disease. Furthermore, human and animal studies provide increasing evidence for the role of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, including regulatory cells, as mediators of this protective effect. Summary: There is evidence that exposure to some infectious organisms can protect from atopy, whereas other infections appear to promote allergic diseases. The timing of exposure to infection and the properties of the infectious agent, in addition to the genetic susceptibility of the host, play an important role in the future development of allergic disease.
KW - allergy
KW - farm-rearing
KW - hygiene hypothesis
KW - infection
KW - regulatory cells
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84856105737&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84856105737&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834ee57c
DO - 10.1097/MOP.0b013e32834ee57c
M3 - Review article
C2 - 22227779
AN - SCOPUS:84856105737
VL - 24
SP - 98
EP - 102
JO - Current Opinion in Pediatrics
JF - Current Opinion in Pediatrics
SN - 1040-8703
IS - 1
ER -