Exposome and Immunity Training: How Pathogen Exposure Order Influences Innate Immune Cell Lineage Commitment and...

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Epigenetics
• Environmental Health

Background:

• Adaptive immunity is known for immune memory, but innate immunity can also be trained.
• Trained immunity challenges the view of innate immunity as non-specific.
• The exposome, encompassing all life exposures, influences immune training and tolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of trained immunity within the context of the exposome.
• To understand how cumulative exposures shape innate immune responses.
• To identify implications for vaccination, inflammatory diseases, and COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Review of current research on trained immunity and the exposome.
• Analysis of epigenetic and metabolic changes in hematopoietic stem cells.
• Examination of how dose, duration, and order of exposures impact immune training.

Main Results:

• Trained immunity involves epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of immune cells.
• The exposome critically influences whether trained immunity or immunotolerance is established.
• Individual responses to exposures vary, leading to divergent immune phenotypes.

Conclusions:

• Understanding innate immune training and the exposome is vital for personalized medicine.
• This research offers potential avenues for improved vaccine development and treatment of inflammatory conditions.
• Further research can help mitigate deleterious effects of immunotolerance.