Early origins of inflammation: microbial exposures in infancy predict lower levels of C-reactive protein in adulthood

Ecological factors are important determinants of the development and function of anti-pathogen defences. Inflammation is a central part of innate immunity, but the developmental factors that shape the regulation of inflammation are not known. The authors test the hypothesis that microbial exposures in infancy are associated with high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) in adulthood using prospective data from a birth cohort in the Philippines (n ¼ 1461). Proc Biol Sci. [Epub ahead of print]