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Review
. 2023 May:67:101765.
doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101765. Epub 2023 Apr 25.

Mechanisms of climate change and related air pollution on the immune system leading to allergic disease and asthma

Vanitha Sampath  1 , Juan Aguilera  2 , Mary Prunicki  3 , Kari C Nadeau  4
Affiliations
Review

Mechanisms of climate change and related air pollution on the immune system leading to allergic disease and asthma

Vanitha Sampath et al. Semin Immunol. 2023 May.

Abstract

Climate change is considered the greatest threat to global health. Greenhouse gases as well as global surface temperatures have increased causing more frequent and intense heat and cold waves, wildfires, floods, drought, altered rainfall patterns, hurricanes, thunderstorms, air pollution, and windstorms. These extreme weather events have direct and indirect effects on the immune system, leading to allergic disease due to exposure to pollen, molds, and other environmental pollutants. In this review, we will focus on immune mechanisms associated with allergy and asthma-related health risks induced by climate change events. We will review current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which the changing environment mediates these effects.

Keywords: Allergy; Asthma; Climate change; Pollen; Pollution; Wildfire.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
Global impacts of climate change. These factors directly and indirectly affect human health, including immune health and allergic diseases.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Th2 and Treg allergic and tolerogenic reactions on encountering allergens
Figure 3:
Figure 3:
Mechanistic pathways by which air pollutants mediate proinflammatory cytokines in the lungs. IL, interleukin; TNF, tumor necrosis factor; NF-kB, Nuclear factor kappa B, AhR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Figure 4:
Figure 4:
Mechanisms by which climate change events mediate allergic response independently and synergistically in conjunction with allergens.
Figure 5:
Figure 5:
Mechanisms by which heat stress mediates allergic diseases and asthma
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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