HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Martinez, F. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Martinez, F. D.

Gene–Environment Interactions in Asthma

With Apologies to William of Ockham

Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Fernando D. Martinez, M.D., University of Arizona, 1501 North Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724. E-mail: fernando{at}arc.arizona.edu

ABSTRACT

Many environmental factors and a large number of genetic polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with asthma risk in different locales and at different ages. It seems that what we call asthma is a heterogeneous set of conditions for which the only common feature is recurrent airway obstruction that is at least partially responsive to usual asthma therapy. Recent studies in which environmental factors and genetic variants were studied concomitantly have suggested a potential unifying concept for the disease. It seems that asthma is a genetically mediated development dysregulation of diverse immune and airway responses to a variety of specific and nonspecific exposures. It thus seems improbable that most genetic variants associated with asthma influence the disease regardless of which environmental factors trigger it and at which lifetime phase they are present. More likely, the most important gene variants for asthma are polymorphisms that exert their influence on the network system controlling biological responses to asthma-related exposures.

Key Words: asthma • genetics • environment • interaction

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D Thrasher and S. Crawley The biocontaminants and complexity of damp indoor spaces: more than what meets the eyes Toxicology and Industrial Health, October 1, 2009; 25(9-10): 583 - 615. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. J. Akinbami, J. E. Moorman, P. L. Garbe, and E. J. Sondik Status of Childhood Asthma in the United States, 1980-2007 Pediatrics, March 1, 2009; 123(Supplement_3): S131 - S145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. A. Eggleston The Environment and Asthma in US Inner Cities Chest, November 1, 2007; 132(5_suppl): 782S - 788S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]