Dear Editor

One of the paradoxes of modern medicine is the rapid growing incidence of immune-based diseases over the last half of the century.

Despite enormous advances in our understanding of the immune system, and our ability to manipulate immunity in experienced animals and man, we have not been able to curtail these diseases. In fact, it is becoming increasing evident that immune hypersensitivity responses are central to the pathogenesis of many of the most common diseases of the 21st century including atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis . Included in this epidemic are atopy-associated disorders (such as asthma, eczema, allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, and food allergies), which have skyrocketed in prevalence. While genetic factors certainly contribute to the pathogenesis of these diseases, there is emerging evidence that their rising incidence is related to changes in western lifestyle. ADAM 33, a new asthma gene is a major breakthrough and would definitely help in the management of asthma.