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Researchers have found that environmental exposures, including air pollution, affect gene expressions associated with respiratory diseases much more than genetic ancestry. The study analyzed manmadata from biological specimens, health questionnaires and environmental datasets, examined the relationship between gene expression and environmental stimuli.
Genetic, health and disease data of participants were linked with environmental information like air pollution, walkability and access to food to see how these factors impact genegexpression. Participants were enrolled in the Quebec arm (CARTaGENE) of the Canadian Partnership for Tomorrow Project (CPTP), which supports research into environmental, lifestyle and genetic factors related to the development and progression of cancer and chronic diseases.
The study used deep characterization of gene expression signatures from participants and linked the data with environmental information. Most gene expression is not derived by ancestry, environmental exposures associated with living in a particular city or region are more impactful on gene expression associated with disease traits than heritable variation.
Exposure to higher levels of particulate matter and nitrous dioxide in the Saguenay area affected the expression of genes associated with oxygen pathways and respiratory function and leads to higher rates of respiratory ailments like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The study shows that there are genetic variants that control how a person’s gene expression responds when exposed to environmental stimuli.
haleplushearty.org