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Published on: August 7, 2017
Asthma and the microbiome: defining the critical window in early life
Leah T Stiemsma1, Stuart E Turvey2
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC Canada ; BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, BC Canada.
Insights
Early life gut microbiota may prevent childhood asthma. Studies suggest the first 100 days are critical for microbial interventions to promote immune health and reduce asthma risk.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Asthma is a prevalent chronic airway inflammatory disease in children, with rising rates suggesting environmental factors are key.
- The microflora hypothesis posits that early-life microbial exposures disrupt gut microbiota, leading to immune dysregulation and hypersensitivity disorders like asthma.
- Animal models indicate a critical early-life window for microbial influence on asthma and atopic disease development.
Approach:
- This review synthesizes findings from mouse models and human studies investigating the intestinal and airway microbiotas in relation to asthma.
- It highlights research characterizing the critical early-life window for microbial impact on immune development.
- Focus is placed on studies analyzing microbial composition in the context of asthma and atopic disease.
Key Points:
- A critical window exists in early life, particularly the first 100 days, where microbial exposures significantly influence immune system development.
- Gut and airway microbiota composition is strongly linked to the development of asthma and atopic diseases.
- Early-life microbial dysbiosis is implicated in promoting immune hypersensitivity.
Conclusions:
- Characterizing the early-life critical window for microbial influence offers potential for asthma prevention.
- Therapeutic administration of specific microbes in the first 100 days of life may prevent childhood asthma development.
- This research holds promise for improving childhood immune health through targeted microbial interventions.
Abstract:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory immune disorder of the airways affecting one in ten children in westernized countries. The geographical disparity combined with a generational rise in prevalence, emphasizes that changing environmental exposures play a significant role in the etiology of this disease. The microflora hypothesis suggests that early life exposures are disrupting the composition of the microbiota and consequently, promoting immune dysregulation in the form of hypersensitivity disorders. Animal model research supports a role of the microbiota in asthma and atopic disease development. Further, these model systems have identified an early life critical window, during which gut microbial dysbiosis is most influential in promoting hypersensitivity disorders. Until recently this critical window had not been characterized in humans, but now studies suggest that the ideal time to use microbes as preventative treatments or diagnostics for asthma in humans is within the first 100 days of life. This review outlines the major mouse-model and human studies leading to characterization of the early life critical window, emphasizing studies analyzing the intestinal and airway microbiotas in asthma and atopic disease. This research has promising future implications regarding childhood immune health, as ultimately it may be possible to therapeutically administer specific microbes in early life to prevent the development of asthma in children.
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