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Differences between rural and city inhabitants
- May. 2022
- Supported by
33% of patients struggle with allergic reactions and 69% of them are affected by skin reactions1
Epidemiological research highlighted microbiome immunomodulatory function and diversity between rural and urban dwellers.
This population-based, cohort study was conducted in adjacent Karelia populations in Finland and Russia. The Karelia are a genetically similar people who were separated following WWII. Those living in Finland developed a Westernized lifestyle, whereas those on the Russian side retained their rural way of life.
The investigators analyzed self-reported allergy symptoms and sensitization to common allergies by serum IgE values.
The key findings highlighted different microbiota diversity between the two populations.
|
Urban population |
Rural population |
|---|---|
| Poor microbiome diversity less abundant acinetobacter | Higher microbiome diversity abundant acinetobacter |
| Low IL-10 expression and high IL-4 expression | High IL-10 expression and low IL-4 expression |
This translated into more positive skin tests and increased sensitization to birch pollen in the Finnish population.
1 Salah S et al. Prevalence of Skin Reactions and Self-Reported Allergies in 5 Countries with Their Social Impact Measured through Quality of Life Impairment. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021; 18(9):4501.
2 Haahtela T, Laatikainen T, Alenius H, Auvinen P, Fyhrquist N, Hanski I, von Hertzen L, Jousilahti P, Kosunen TU, Markelova O, Mäkelä MJ, Pantelejev V, Uhanov M, Zilber E, Vartiainen E. Hunt for the origin of allergy - comparing the Finnish and Russian Karelia. Clin Exp Allergy. 2015 May;45(5):891-901. doi: 10.1111/cea.12527. PMID: 25772429.