Several factors that impact childhood asthma conditions include genetic variables, environmental factors, and the microbiome of the infant′s stomach. The current study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology investigated the impact of 17q12-21 locus genotype and environmental exposures on the development of the early-life microbiome in children with asthma.

The researchers used the longitudinal fecal 16s rRNA (ribosomal ribonucleic acid) samples collected at 3-6 months, one year, or both from such kids. In both the above cohort and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Childhood Asthma 2010 (COPSAC), the researchers evaluated the existence of wildtype or mutational 17q12-21 genotypes in relation to asthma risk and microbial maturation.

The findings revealed that asthma was linked with both rapid fecal microbial maturation at 3-6 months and delayed maturity at 1 year of age (p<0.001). Fecal Bacteroides decreased between 3 and 6 months in those with later asthma (p=0.006) and those with lower microbial maturation at the age of 1 year (q=0.009). Microbial maturation, which occurs between the ages of 3-6 months, was the mediating factor in 61% of the link between breastfeeding and asthma. The 17q12-21 genotype and microbial maturation both had additive effects on the chance of developing asthma in children.

The study concluded that correlations between environmental exposures, such as breastfeeding and asthma, are mediated by the gut microbiota and its maturation. The 17q12-21 genotype and the intestinal microbiota have independent and additive impacts on children′s likelihood of developing asthma.

(Source:

1. https://www.news-medical.net/news/20230116/Childhood-asthma-risk-appears-to-be-influenced-by-both-the-intestinal-microbiome-and-17q12-21-genotype.aspx
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0091674923000386)