Gene–environment interactions and their impact on human health

The molecular processes underlying human health and disease are highly complex. Often, genetic and environmental factors contribute to a given disease or phenotype in a non-additive manner, yielding a gene-environment (G × E) interaction. In this work, we broadly review current knowledge on the impact of gene-environment interactions on human health. We first explain the independent impact of genetic variation and the environment. We next detail well-established G × E interactions that impact human health involving environmental toxicants, pollution, viruses, and sex chromosome composition. We conclude with possibilities and challenges for studying G × E interactions.

• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: R01 GM055479, R01 DK107502, P01 AI150585, AR073228, AI024717, P30 AR070549, U01 AI130830, R01 AI148276, R01 NS099068, AI130830, HG010730, AR070549, R01 AI024717, R01 AR073228, R01 HG010730
• NH
  National Human Genome Research Institute

  Awards: R01 HG010730, U01 HG011172
• NI
  National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

  Awards: U01 AI130830, R01 AI141569, R01 AI148276, U01 AI150748, R01 AI024717, P01 AI150585
• NI
  National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

  Awards: R01 AR073228, P30 AR070549