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Early life exposure to dietary and inhalant allergens
Author(s) -
Vance Gillian H. S.,
Holloway Judith A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1034/j.1399-3038.13.s.15.5.x
Subject(s) - medicine , in utero , intoxicative inhalant , allergen , immunology , fetus , immune system , allergy , pregnancy , toxicology , biology , genetics
Increasing evidence points to early life, including fetal life, as being a critical time period during which the infant's allergic fate may be determined. However, initial antigen priming in utero necessitates fetal exposure to maternally derived allergen. This article reviews our current knowledge regarding materno‐fetal allergen transfer in vivo and reflects on mechanisms by which this exposure might exert immunomodulatory influences on the developing immune system.