Atopic Disease Epidemiology and Genetic Factors
Summary
Atopic diseases, encompassing atopic dermatitis, asthma and allergic rhinitis, rank among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide. Over recent decades their incidence surged in industrialised nations before levelling off, yet developing regions continue to record rising rates. This pattern points to complex interactions between genetic predisposition and rapid environmental change, including urbanisation, altered microbial exposures and lifestyle shifts. Family and twin studies estimate heritability of atopic traits at 50–80%, implicating numerous genetic loci in immune regulation, barrier function and antigen presentation. Genome-wide association studies have uncovered risk variants in cytokine genes such as IL4, IL13 and in the filaggrin (FLG) gene crucial to skin integrity, while the HLA region remains a hotspot for diverse allergic phenotypes. Epigenetic modifications and gene–environment interplay further refine individual susceptibility, suggesting that polygenic risk scores and novel biomarkers may soon guide early prevention and targeted intervention. Understanding these genetic factors within global epidemiological contexts is vital for developing personalised therapies and informing public health strategies.
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Atopic Disease Epidemiology and Genetic Factors publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in atopic disease epidemiology and genetic factors across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Atopy: Genetic tendency to produce IgE antibodies and develop allergic diseases.
Single-nucleotide polymorphism: A variation at a single DNA base among individuals.
Heritability: Proportion of trait variability in a population attributed to genetic factors.
Th1/Th2 cells: Subsets of T helper cells directing cellular or humoral immune responses, respectively.
Human leucocyte antigen (HLA): Gene complex encoding proteins essential for antigen presentation to T cells.
References
- Epidemiology and natural history of atopic diseases. European Clinical Respiratory Journal (2015).
- Mimicking microbial 'education' of the immune system: a strategy to revert the epidemic trend of atopy and allergic asthma?. Respiratory Research (2000).
- Effect of HLA on development of asthma. Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2018).
- Reactivity Skin-Prick Test with Common Allergens and Their Genetic Association with Polymorphisms in IL-9, IL-13, IL-4, IL-5 & IL-4Rα Genes among Asthmatics in Sudan. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2023).
- Distribution of atopic conditions among attendants to specialized allergy center/ Kirkuk/ Iraq. Al-Kitab Journal for Pure Sciences (2022).
- Genetic polymorphisms in pattern recognition receptors are associated with allergic diseases through gene-gene interactions.. Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine (2019).
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