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Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology
Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Review

Asthma and the microbiome: defining the critical window in early life

Authors: Leah T. Stiemsma, Stuart E. Turvey

Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology | Issue 1/2017

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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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Metadata
Title
Asthma and the microbiome: defining the critical window in early life
Authors
Leah T. Stiemsma
Stuart E. Turvey
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1710-1492
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-016-0173-6

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