Climate change and epigenetic biomarkers in allergic and airway diseases

Abstract

Human epigenetic variation is associated with both environmental exposures and allergic diseases and can potentially serve as a biomarker connecting climate change with allergy and airway diseases. In this narrative review, we summarize recent human epigenetic studies examining exposure to temperature, precipitation, extreme weather events, and malnutrition to discuss findings as they relate to allergic and airway diseases. Temperature has been the most widely studied exposure, with the studies implicating both short-term and long-term exposures with epigenetic alterations and epigenetic aging. Few studies have examined natural disasters or extreme weather events. The studies available have reported differential DNA methylation of multiple genes and pathways, some of which were previously associated with asthma or allergy. Few studies have integrated climate-related events, epigenetic biomarkers, and allergic disease together. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed along with the collection of target tissues beyond blood samples, such as nasal and skin cells. Finally, global collaboration to increase diverse representation of study participants, particularly those most affected by climate injustice, as well as strengthen replication, validation, and harmonization of measurements will be needed to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the human epigenome. Human epigenetic variation is associated with both environmental exposures and allergic diseases and can potentially serve as a biomarker connecting climate change with allergy and airway diseases. In this narrative review, we summarize recent human epigenetic studies examining exposure to temperature, precipitation, extreme weather events, and malnutrition to discuss findings as they relate to allergic and airway diseases. Temperature has been the most widely studied exposure, with the studies implicating both short-term and long-term exposures with epigenetic alterations and epigenetic aging. Few studies have examined natural disasters or extreme weather events. The studies available have reported differential DNA methylation of multiple genes and pathways, some of which were previously associated with asthma or allergy. Few studies have integrated climate-related events, epigenetic biomarkers, and allergic disease together. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed along with the collection of target tissues beyond blood samples, such as nasal and skin cells. Finally, global collaboration to increase diverse representation of study participants, particularly those most affected by climate injustice, as well as strengthen replication, validation, and harmonization of measurements will be needed to elucidate the impacts of climate change on the human epigenome. 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J. et and of and Environ Sci. 35: Google Scholar study of a in reported differential methylation of the in blood associated with temperature and M. L. J. J. et al.The of methylation in the and Environ 2020; Scopus Google Scholar These findings that exposure to temperature, both and short-term and of the DNA methylation in and as examined in Finally, there has been study on temperature and epigenetic aging. A study the Health in the of in reported of multiple epigenetic and associated with and exposure to not N. S. K. S. et and long-term exposure to air temperature and epigenetic Int. 2023; Scopus Google Scholar average temperature associated with increased of those epigenetic and the epigenetic These findings are because of including and risk of and disease such as airway diseases and A. D.M. et of the and of leading of and disease 2020; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar, C. A. J. L. et of and in the 2020; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar, A. S. et epigenetic biomarker of for and 2018; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar In this temperature for epigenetic were for participants, and with These findings are to allergic as of epigenetic biomarkers, particularly the has been associated with asthma and allergic in C. A. et is associated with allergy and asthma in in Allergy Immunol. 2019; Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus Google A. J.E. L. et al.The nasal as a biomarker of asthma and airway in 2019; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar DNA methylation studies on temperature, there is with to study temperature range and and epigenetic and Climate change is associated with increased extreme precipitation and as well as with in of the to changes in the Climate change on and extreme precipitation increases with water 2020; Scholar of climatic changes is increased exposure to and in both and which can asthma both allergic and G. Holgate S.T. Pawankar R. Ledford D.K. Cecchi L. 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J. et and of and Environ Sci. 35: Google Scholar The a precipitation exposure and DNA methylation alterations is by on exposure to which is in the S. M. et and exposure DNA methylation in 2023; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar Climate change is associated with frequency and of extreme weather to and changes in and of extreme weather hurricanes, and heat which have been increasing the a global to K.L. Vanos J. Baldwin J.W. Bell J.E. Hondula D.M. Errett N.A. et al.Extreme weather and climate change: population health and health system implications.Annu Rev Public Health. 2021; 42: 293-315Crossref PubMed Scopus (183) Google Scholar of have been linked to allergic disease and health in studies exposure to air pollution wildfires has been to increase risk for N. R. and and 2019; Google Scholar and R. N. J. A. K. et of air pollution and health use for and 2021; PubMed Scopus Google M. J. of exposure to air pollution with of and PubMed Scopus Google Scholar and extreme heat in the have increased the of allergic C. R. et to extreme heat is associated with increased of Allergy 2017; Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus Google Scholar human studies that examined the impacts of wildfires on the with in average and exposure to in R. S. et and DNA and Int. Scopus Google Scholar In the reported that were for most of were and not with findings for also significant for with for These epigenetic alterations for air pollution exposure to genes that are related to and immune including which is a associated with et study of asthma and Allergy Immunol. Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus Google Scholar and which is associated with and I. C. et of and allergic disease 2017; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar In a study of to in reported that with to burning of land for and to wildfires methylation of the of which is to be associated with M. R. 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L. et the of on in 2020; Scholar human epigenetic studies were for extreme weather such as heat and and climate change are that and a the effects on and S. et al.The global of and climate change: the Lancet 2019; Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus Google Climate change and we to 2020; PubMed Scopus Google Scholar Climate change has to pathways, including of to extreme increased and and it is predicted to to the of by S. et al.The global of and climate change: the Lancet 2019; Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus Google Scholar has effects on the human including and immune as well as and J. and Med. PubMed Scopus Google Scholar the on and epigenetic is we on a diverse of recent epigenetic studies of and examining exposure to malnutrition associated with of or in and epigenetic alterations in have exposure to malnutrition and in a in associated with and in M. V. C. 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