Redox biology: interface of the exposome with the proteome, epigenome and genome

Abstract

The exposome is the cumulative measure of environmental influences and associated biological responses throughout lifespan, including exposures from the environment, diet, behavior and endogenous processes. Much of the direct interaction of an individual's exposome involves redox biology as the body responds to environmental, dietary and behavioral risk factors of disease. The present commentary addresses this critical interface and the need for redox biologists to lead development of concepts and strategies to sequence the exposome.

Keywords: Environmental exposures; Life cycle; Oxidative stress; Personalized medicine; Redox signaling.

Graphical abstract

Fig. 1

Redox biology is at the interface between an individual's exposome and functional genome. (A) Epidemiology of disease provides a framework for systematic evaluation of association of exposures with disease. The landmark Doll and Peto's study of factors associated with cancer illustrates a framework to begin sequencing cumulative lifelong exposures and responses as conceptualized by the exposome. (B) Redox biology encompasses mechanisms linking exposures to the functional genome. Indeed, redox mechanisms provide the first line of defense against environmental challenges. Real life involves a cumulative series of multiple exposures, and many of these affect the organism by common mechanisms. Hence, development of the conceptual grid to sequence the exposome will benefit from active leadership by redox biologists knowledgeable in these response mechanisms. (C) The conceptual grid to study the exposome can benefit from life cycle research in nutrition, development and aging. Research studies to sequence the human exposome can benefit from decades of research on developmental ages, which are vulnerable to nutrient deficiency, infection and other exposures. Application of universal biomonitoring to existing longitudinal studies may be especially useful to obtain an initial draft of the human exposome. Panel A redrawn from Doll and Peto .