Exposom

The original English term "exposomes" (composed of exposure and genomes) was published in 2005 by Chris Wild, Director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

The totality of all non-genetic, endogenous and exogenous environmental influences to which an individual is exposed. The exposome of an individual consists of extrinsic and intrinsic environmental factors. Extrinsic environmental factors include: pollutants, allergies, molds, bacterial products and pathogens of various kinds. Intrinsic environmental factors include: genetic background, hormones and commensal microorganisms. The normal immune response to commensal microorganisms and allergens is tolerance. The normal immune response to mycogenic, bacterial and viral pathogens is a complex immune response designed to eliminate the pathogens.

The influence of environmental factors on the prevalence and severity of atopic diseases has been shown many times. Ultrafine particles such as those found in diesel exhaust gases have been shown to increase asthma in animal experiments. Pollen from birch trees that have grown under natural environmental conditions can show urbanization-related changes in their allergy potential. Birch pollen that has been exposed to an increased concentration of ozone in the outdoor air is more chemotactic for neutrophil granulocytes; it has a higher content of the main allergen Bet v 1 .

The influence of the exposome can also be illustrated by looking at epidemiological data on chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD ) and migration. Adults who migrate from countries with a low incidence of IBD to countries with a high incidence of IBD retain the low IBD incidence rate of their home country. If, on the other hand, children or young adults migrate from countries with a low incidence of IBD to countries with a high incidence of IBD, the probability increases that the incidence of this population will equalize to the level of the country of emigration.

The term "exposomes" is composed of: exposure and genomes.

1. Gilles S et al.(2014) The environmental-pathogen axis-is used in communicable and non-communicable diseases: recent advances in experimental and clinical research. JDDG 12: 395-400

2. Peters A et al (2012) Understanding the link between environmental exposures and health: does the exposome promise too much? J Epidemiol Community Health 66: 103-105.