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Gene-environment interactions in chronic inflammatory disease

Nature Immunology volume 12, pages 273–277 (2011)Cite this article

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Chronic inflammatory diseases represent a major challenge for both clinical research and patient care, and evidence indicates that these disorders develop as a result of complex gene-environment interactions. Better understanding of their cause-and-effect relationship is the basis for emerging proposals for therapy and prevention.

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Figure 1: A new paradigm for the development of chronic inflammation.
Figure 2: Metabolic and immune-mediated pathologies with inflammatory processes in various target organs as the key driver of disease initiation and/or perpetuation.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harald Renz is with the Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany.,

    Harald Renz

  2. Erika von Mutius is with Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany.,

    Erika von Mutius

  3. and the Department of Pathology, Per Brandtzaeg is with the Laboratory for Immunohistochemistry and Immunopathology, Centre for Immune Regulation, University of Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway.,

    Per Brandtzaeg

  4. William O. Cookson is with the National Heart & Lung Institute Imperial College London, United Kingdom.,

    William O Cookson

  5. Ingo B. Autenrieth is with the Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,

    Ingo B Autenrieth

  6. Dirk Haller is with the Section of Biofunctionality, Research Center for Nutrition and Food Science, and Center for Diet and Disease, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.,

    Dirk Haller

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  1. Harald Renz
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  2. Erika von Mutius
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  5. Ingo B Autenrieth
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  6. Dirk Haller
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Correspondence to Harald Renz.

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Renz, H., von Mutius, E., Brandtzaeg, P. et al. Gene-environment interactions in chronic inflammatory disease. Nat Immunol 12, 273–277 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ni0411-273

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