Education of lung epithelial cells as an alternative explanation for the protective effect of infectious pressure on development of allergy and asthma. Ghent University
There is an epidemic of allergy and asthma in the Western industrialized world, with up to 30% of children showing reactivity to common inhaled and food allergens. The reason for the increase in these Th2-associated diseases is currently unclear. The hygiene hypothesis of allergy states that lifestyle changes leading to less "infectious pressure" in the first year of life are associated with more allergy. Conversely, growing up on a farm ...