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Allergic Disease and Dog Exposure

Exposure to dogs in the first year of life enhances the development of the immune system, which reduces allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis, according to a study featured in a February 2004 Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI). The JACI is the peer-reviewed scientific journal of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

Professional colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, followed 285 infants from birth to one year, comparing pet exposure in the home with their cytokine secretion patterns and allergy indicators. The study found that home exposure to dogs, but not cats, in the first year of life was associated with a reduction in atopic dermatitis, an itchy skin rash common in allergic families, and also in allergen specific IgE (the allergic antibody) in the bloodstream at age one year. The prevalence of eczema, which is often the first manifestation of allergy, after one year was 12% in children exposed to dogs, compared to 43% in children with no exposure.

Researchers also discovered that dog exposure enhanced the production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), an immune system hormone with potent anti-inflammatory properties. In previous studies, IL-10 seems to inhibit the development of allergic diseases and asthma. Dog exposure accounted for a 48% increase in IL-10 when compared to infants with no dog exposure.

The findings raise the possibility that enhanced IL-10 responsible for the lower risk for allergic sensitization and atopic dermatitis. Greater understanding of mechanisms that modify immune development to promote tolerance in infancy might lead to new preventative strategies for allergic diseases.

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