Early-immune development in asthma: A review of the literature.

• Immune dysfunction in asthma is the result of genetic predisposition and exposures that lead to chronic inflammatory processes in the airways. • Cross-talk between the maternal microbiome and fetal immune development may occur during initial seeding or through regulation of Th2 skew leading to asthma. • Given the "missing heritability" of asthma, interactions with environmental factors likely play a larger role than previously thought. • Future work will need to integrate cellular dynamics, lung physiology, immunology and microbiome interactions to further our understanding of asthma. This review presents a comprehensive examination of the various factors contributing to the immunopathogenesis of asthma from the prenatal to preschool period. We focus on the contributions of genetic and environmental components as well as the role of the nasal and gut microbiome on immune development. Predisposing genetic factors, including inherited genes associated with increased susceptibility to asthma, are discussed alongside environmental factors such as respiratory viruses and pollutant exposure, which can trigger or exacerbate asthma symptoms. Furthermore, the intricate interplay between the nasal and gut microbiome and the immune system is explored, emphasizing their influence on allergic immune development and response to environmental stimuli. This body of literature underscores the necessity of a comprehensive approach to comprehend and manage asthma, as it emphasizes the interactions of multiple factors in immune development and disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]