Causes of Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis is a multifactorial disease caused by the combined effects of genes and the environment. Genetic studies have shown that allergic rhinitis is a complex multi-gene hereditary disease, and environmental factors mainly refer to various allergens present in the human living environment.

Genetic factors

The various phenotypes of allergic rhinitis are under strong genetic control, making it a disease with a multi-genetic tendency.

Multiple genes and related transcription factors have been found to be involved in the pathogenesis of this disease, including candidate pathogenic genes such as immunoglobulin E (lgE)-related candidate genes, important transcription factors, cytokines, and T cell surface antigens.

The impact of environmental factors on the onset of allergic rhinitis can also be further revealed from the perspective of epigenetics. Studies have shown that changes in the ecological environment over the past 30 years can regulate the innate immunity and acquired immunity of the respiratory mucosal immune system through various genetic mechanisms, increasing the susceptibility of patients to allergens.

Inducing factors

Allergens in the environment can induce the production of specific IgE antibodies and react with them. They mainly include airborne allergens (also known as inhalation allergens) and food allergens, among which exposure to inhalation allergens is the main cause of allergic rhinitis.

Inhalation allergens

Include fungal spores, pollen particles, dust mites, animal excrement, etc. The concentration of such allergens is significantly correlated with the severity of symptoms of respiratory allergic diseases.

Food allergens

Food allergens can cause skin and digestive tract allergies, and can also cause nasal symptoms, but it is rare for them to cause only allergic rhinitis. For infants, food allergens are mainly milk and soybeans; for adults, common food allergens include peanuts, nuts, fish, eggs, milk, soybeans, apples, pears, etc.

Whether genetically modified foods can cause allergies remains to be carefully evaluated. It should be noted that allergens in some vegetables and fruits may have cross-reactivity with plant pollen.