The Effect of Environmental Factors on Immunological Pathways of Asthma in Children of the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study.
Żywiołowska-Smuga SaraJerzyńska JoannaPodlecka DanielaPolańska KingaBrzozowska AgnieszkaPublished in: International journal of environmental research and public health (2023)
The FOXP3 transcription factor is a marker of regulatory T cells (Tregs), and is essential in the process of their activation and proper expression by promoting immune homeostasis. To assess the influence of the environment on the development of asthma, we hypothesized that in our cohort, exposure to environmental factors is associated with asthma risk in children, and that FOXP3 levels vary with their incidence and are negatively correlated with developing asthma. This prospective study conducted in Poland uses a cohort of 85 children (42 with and 43 without asthma diagnosis) aged 9 to 12 years recruited for the Polish Mother and Child Cohort Study. We collected questionnaires and organized visits to assess patients' clinical condition (skin prick tests, lung function assessments). Blood samples were taken to determine immune parameters. Breastfed children had lower risk of asthma. Asthma risk was higher in children who live in the city, with antibiotic course before the age of 2 and antibiotic therapy more than twice a year. Environmental factors were associated with childhood asthma. Breastfeeding, the coexistence of other allergic diseases, and the frequency of housekeeping affect FOXP3 levels, which are negatively correlated with the risk of asthma.
Keyphrases
- lung function
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- regulatory t cells
- allergic rhinitis
- cystic fibrosis
- air pollution
- young adults
- mental health
- end stage renal disease
- transcription factor
- chronic kidney disease
- dendritic cells
- stem cells
- risk factors
- smoking cessation
- ejection fraction
- immune response
- atopic dermatitis
- soft tissue
- patient reported
- genome wide identification