Abstract:
Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent inflammatory skin disease. Loss‐of‐function mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG ) represent the strongest genetic risk factor for AD, being strongly associated with early disease onset and persistence into adulthood. The epidermis of individuals with mutations in FLG is fundamentally different from normal skin being characterized by increased penetration of allergens.
Recent birth cohort studies showed a significant interaction between cat ownership at birth and mutations in FLG (R501X, 2282del4) on the development of early‐onset AD. This finding was replicated for the 2282del4 FLG mutation in a Dutch cohort study and extended to further associate with risk of allergic sensitization. We performed analyses in multiple birth cohorts to examine the consistency and overall strength of the previously observed interaction.