Early life wildfire smoke exposure led to long-term changes in genes impacting nervous and immune systems in rhesus macaques, according to research from the CNPRC.
Previous studies indicate that early life exposure to wildfire smoke is associated with adolescent immune and respiratory challenges. These adverse effects of wildfire exposure are increasingly recognized, the mechanisms through which these changes persist in the body are still unknown.
“Epigenetics may be a potential mechanism that explains this phenomenon,” said Hong Ji, Ph.D, lead researcher on the study.
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