Findings support observational epidemiology showing protective effect of dog exposure early in life<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter<\/b>
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MONDAY, June 9, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Early-life dog exposure may modify the genetic effect of the single nucleotide variant rs10214237 on atopic eczema (AE) via IL7R<\/em>, according to a study published online June 4 in Allergy<\/em>.<\/p>\n Marie Standl, Ph.D., from the Helmholtz Zentrum M\u00fcnchen\u2013German Research Center for Environmental Health in Neuherberg, Germany, and colleagues examined gene-environment interactions to examine the pathophysiology of AE. Interaction was tested between the 24 most significant AE-associated loci identified from genome-wide association studies and 18 early-life environmental factors using data from 16 European studies. A further 10 studies and in vitro modeling were used to independently assess findings.<\/p>\n The researchers found that the discovery analysis (25,339 individuals) showed suggestive evidence for interaction between seven environmental factors and at least one established single nucleotide variant (SNV) for AE, with a total of 14 interactions. In the replication analysis, with 254,532 individuals, there was a nominally significant interaction for dog exposure with the SNV rs10214237 (on chromosome 5p13.2 near IL7R<\/em>), with odds ratiointeraction<\/sub> = 0.91; the risk effect of the T allele was only seen for those not exposed to dogs. For siblings in the discovery analysis, a similar interaction with rs10214237 was observed (odds ratiointeraction<\/sub> = 0.84), but a replication analysis was underpowered. Lower IL-7R expression was seen in human keratinocytes in association with the rs10214237 homozygous risk genotype, and a differential response was seen according to the rs10214237 genotype for dog exposure modeled in vitro.<\/p>\n “More work is needed, but our findings mean we have a chance to intervene in the risk of allergic disease, to protect future generations,” coauthor Sara J. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of Edinburgh, said in a statement.<\/p>\n Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.<\/p>\n