Allergy, Still Waiting to Explore: Recent Advancement in the Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Approaches of Allergy

Allergic diseases increased greatly in recent decades and are becoming one of the major world health problems of this century. Why there is a high prevalence of allergic diseases not only in western world but in Asia and other developing countries still needs further investigation. It is a new frontier to explore the pathogenesis of allergy and its therapeutic approaches. Journal of Allergy & Therapy is dedicated to allergic diseases and therapeutic researches from clinical trials and laboratory experiments, including various approaches adopted and new strategies in diagnosis, therapy and prevention of allergic diseases. I am pleased to write this editorial for Journal of Allergy & Therapy and confident that this journal will become a highly respected resource in allergic diseases research.

The term “allergy” was first used in 1906, which derives from the Greek words “allos” and “ergos” to describe the hypersensitivity reactions of immune system to certain substances such as dust, pollen or some kind of foods. All forms of hypersensitivity used to be classified as allergies and the meaning of the word changed over time, allergy now is restricted to type I hypersensitivities (immediate hypersensitivity), which are mainly characterized as immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies mediated allergic diseases, including hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma and anaphylaxis, etc. Generally, two categories, namely host and environmental factors are responsible for this allergic condition. The host risk factors include heredity, sex, race and age that may put the individuals into a predisposition, namely atopy, which is an exaggerated tendency to become sensitized.

 The exposure to environmental pollution, infectious diseases and allergens makes up the external causes. Reduced exposure to environmental pathogenic microorganisms in the early childhood, according to the “hygiene hypothesis”, results in insufficient stimulation of Th1 cells and leading to an overactive of Th2 cells polarization in immune system, which in turn facilitates allergic diseases. Other hypotheses from gut microbiota diversity, infant feeding, over exposure to allergens in occupation to the effects of pollution have been explored, while there is a complex interplay of environmental factors and host genetics that cannot be detached from each other in the immunopathogenesis of allergy, further efforts should be performed to elucidate the etiology of allergy.