The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 113, Issue 2 , Pages 307-314, February 2004

Effects of dog ownership and genotype on immune development and atopy in infancy☆

  • James E Gern, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests: James E. Gern, MD, K4/918 CSC, 600 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53792-9988
    • ,
  • Claudia L Reardon, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Sabine Hoffjan, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill, USA
    • ,
  • Dan Nicolae, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Statistics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill, USA
    • ,
  • Zhanhai Li, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Kathy A Roberg, RN, MS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • William A Neaville, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Kirstin Carlson-Dakes, RN, MEd

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Kiva Adler, RN

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Rebekah Hamilton, MSN

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Elizabeth Anderson, RN, MA

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Stephanie Gilbertson-White, RN

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Christopher Tisler, BS, ASCP

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Douglas DaSilva, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Kelly Anklam, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Lance D Mikus, BS

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Louis A Rosenthal, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Carole Ober, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Human Genetics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill, USA
    • ,
  • Ronald Gangnon, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • ,
  • Robert F Lemanske Jr, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA
    • Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wis, USA

Received 13 June 2003; received in revised form 27 October 2003; accepted 17 November 2003.

Abstract 

Background

Exposure to furred pets might confer protection against the development of allergic sensitization through a mechanism that is incompletely understood.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of pet exposure and genotype on immunologic development and the incidence of atopic markers and diseases in the first year of life.

Methods

Pet exposure in the home was compared with cytokine secretion patterns (mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cells at birth and age 1 year) and indicators of atopy (allergen-specific and total IgE, eosinophilia, food allergy, atopic dermatitis) in 285 infants. Interactions with genotype at the CD14 locus were also evaluated in the data analyses.

Results

Exposure to dogs was associated with reduced allergen sensitization (19% vs 33%, P = .020) and atopic dermatitis (30% vs 51%, P < .001). The risk for atopic dermatitis was further influenced by genotype at the CD14 locus (P = .006), even after adjusting for exposure to dogs (P = .003). Furthermore, infants with the genotype −159TT were less likely to develop atopic dermatitis if they were exposed to a dog (5% vs 43%, P = .04). Last, dog exposure was associated with increased IL-10 (117 vs 79 pg/mL, P = .002) and IL-13 (280 vs 226 pg/mL, P = .013) responses at age 1 year.

Conclusions

Having a dog in infancy is associated with higher IL-10 and IL-13 cytokine secretion profiles and reduced allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis. These findings suggest that postnatal exposure to dogs can influence immune development in a genotype-specific fashion and thereby attenuate the development of atopy in at-risk children.

Keywords:  Interleukin-10, hypersensitivity, dogs, cats, children, interleukin-13, allergy, cytokines, CD14, atopic dermatitis

Abbreviations:  AD, Atopic dermatitis, COAST, Childhood Origins of Asthma Study, MNC, Mononuclear cell, RSV, Respiratory syncytial virus

 

☆ Supported by NIH grants #1R01HL61879-01 and P01 HL70831-01, with additional funding from The University of Wisconsin General Clinical Research Center (NIH/NCRR 2 M01 RR03186-16), Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School, and Medical School, Aventis Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Medimmune, and Merck & Co.

PII: S0091-6749(03)02679-4

doi:10.1016/j.jaci.2003.11.017

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Volume 113, Issue 2 , Pages 307-314, February 2004

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