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Gene–environment interaction in autoimmune disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2014

Justine A Ellis ,
Andrew S Kemp  and
Anne-Louise Ponsonby
Justine A Ellis*
Affiliation:
Genes, Environment and Complex Disease, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Andrew S Kemp
Affiliation:
Environmental and Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Anne-Louise Ponsonby
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Environmental and Genetic Epidemiology Research, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Justine Ellis, Genes, Environment and Complex Disease, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, 50 Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. E-mail: justine.ellis@mcri.edu.au
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Abstract

Autoimmune disease manifests in numerous forms, but as a disease group is relatively common in the population. It is complex in aetiology, with genetic and environmental determinants. The involvement of gene variants in autoimmune disease is well established, and evidence for significant involvement of the environment in various disease forms is growing. These factors may act independently, or they may interact, with the effect of one factor influenced by the presence of another. Identifying combinations of genetic and environmental factors that interact in autoimmune disease has the capacity to more fully explain disease risk profile, and to uncover underlying molecular mechanisms contributing to disease pathogenesis. In turn, such knowledge is likely to contribute significantly to the development of personalised medicine, and targeted preventative approaches. In this review, we consider the current evidence for gene–environment (G–E) interaction in autoimmune disease. Large-scale G–E interaction research efforts, while well-justified, face significant practical and methodological challenges. However, it is clear from the evidence that has already been generated that knowledge on how genes and environment interact at a biological level will be crucial in fully understanding the processes that manifest as autoimmunity.

Type
Review Article
Information
Expert Reviews in Molecular Medicine , Volume 16 , 2014 , e4
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2014 

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