Overview

• Researchers analyzed data from more than 280,000 individuals across 16 European studies and found that children carrying eczema-linked genetic variants were less likely to develop atopic eczema if exposed to a dog in early life.
• The protective effect was tied to a specific variant near the interleukin-7 receptor gene, which plays a key role in immune cell function and inflammation.
• Lab modeling showed that this genetic variant alters IL-7R expression in human skin cells and that dog exposure tempers the variant’s inflammatory impact on eczema development.
• Experts say the findings illuminate critical gene-environment interactions and point to IL-7R as a potential target for future prevention strategies and treatments.
• Investigators caution that additional research is required to confirm these lab results and to explore other environmental factors identified in the initial analysis.