Role of viruses in the development of atopic disease in pediatric patients. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep 2012 Dec;12(6):613-20
Date
08/23/2012Pubmed ID
22911226Pubmed Central ID
PMC3504451DOI
10.1007/s11882-012-0295-yScopus ID
2-s2.0-84870623070 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 20 CitationsAbstract
The prevalence of atopic diseases continues to rise in modernized countries, without a clear explanation for this increase. One potential cause identified from epidemiologic studies of children is respiratory RNA viral infections leading to development of recurrent wheezing, asthma, and allergic sensitization. We review human epidemiologic data that both support and refute the role of viruses in this process. Exploring recent murine models, we document possible immunologic mechanisms that could translate a viral infection into atopic disease. We further discuss evidence for a post-viral "atopic cycle" that could explain the development of multiple allergen sensitization, and we explore available data to suggest a connection between viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract with the development of food allergy. Taken together, this review documents evidence to support the "viral hypothesis", and, in particular, the role of RNA viruses in the development of atopic disease.
Author List
Cheung DS, Grayson MHMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Age FactorsAnimals
Asthma
Child
Disease Models, Animal
Food Hypersensitivity
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate
Immunization
Immunoglobulin E