Excess body fat increases inflammation, allergy

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Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2011 Oct;24(4 Suppl):13-6.

Adipokines and their role in allergies.

Ciprandi G, Caimmi D,

Raschetti R,

Miraglia Del

Giudice M, Salpietro C,

Caimmi S,

Castellazzi

AM.

Source

Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria

San o, Genoa, Italy. gio.cip@...

Abstract

Both allergic disorders and obesity keep increasing

in industrialized countries. Even though a strong association between obesity

and allergy- related diseases has been reported in several studies, no

published data show a scientific and firm link in-between the two conditions.

In general, obesity and weight gain have been associated with an increased risk

of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Asthma, allergic rhinitis and obesity have a

common inflammatory pattern that could therefore justify their association. In

fact, the chronic inflammation that characterizes the increase in white adipose

tissue typically pushes the immune system toward a Th2 pattern. Such a

polarization might, consequentially, worsen a pre-existing allergic disease or

even stimulate the evolution from a sensitization to a respiratory form of

allergy. Several studies have been published on the role of different adipokines

on allergic diseases. We focus our review on the role of adipokines on asthma

and allergic rhinitis.