Neu5Gc: Farm Cats and Cows Protect Children From Allergies and Asthma
Author: University of Zurich
Published: 2017/07/12 - Updated: 2024/11/22
Publication Type: Research, Study, Analysis
Peer-Reviewed: Yes
Topic: Asthma - Publications List
Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates
Synopsis: Microbes that occur in higher amounts and greater diversity on farms help protect farm children from allergies and asthma.
Why it matters: This article presents groundbreaking research that expands our understanding of the "farm effect" in protecting children from asthma and allergies. The study, conducted by immunologists from the University of Zurich, reveals that a non-microbial molecule called N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc), found in farm animals, plays a significant role in reducing inflammatory reactions in the immune system. This discovery challenges the previous notion that only microbes were responsible for the protective effect of farm environments. The research provides a measurable link between exposure to farm animals and reduced asthma risk through the presence of Neu5Gc antibodies in children's blood. Furthermore, the study's findings open up new possibilities for developing effective allergy prevention strategies that could potentially extend the protective benefits of farm environments to all children, not just those living on farms. This research contributes significantly to our understanding of immune system development and offers promising avenues for addressing the increasing prevalence of allergies and asthma in industrialized countries - Disabled World (DW).
Introduction
It is a known fact that microbes on farms protect children from asthma and allergies. But even non-microbial molecules can have a protective effect: Immunologists from the University of Zurich have shown that a sialic acid found in farm animals is effective against inflammation of lung tissue. This study opens up a wide variety of perspectives for the prevention of allergies.
Main Item
More and more people suffer from allergies and asthma. In the past decades, these diseases have massively increased in industrialized countries. Today, about 30 percent of children have allergies - with the exception of farm children. Among farm children, the disease is increasing less dramatically than in the case of their friends who live in the same village, but not on a farm.
Microbes that occur in higher amounts and greater diversity on farms protect farm children from allergies and asthma. An environment that is not highly hygienic has a positive effect on the development of the immune system as it learns not to react to harmless materials as is the case with allergies.
A Sialic Acid Acts as Protection
Not only microbes protect against asthma evidently, but also farm animals:
Petting cats and cows and drinking farm milk can also prevent asthma, as the team of researchers headed up by Remo Frei of the Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research from the University of Zurich in cooperation with the Center for Allergy Research and Education (CK-CARE) in Davos and the Children's Hospital of Eastern Switzerland in St. Gallen:
"Early childhood contact with animals and the consumption of food of animal origin seems to regulate the inflammatory reactions of the immune system," says immunologist Frei.
His study shows that a non-microbial substance, a sialic acid, is responsible for this mech-anism. This substance is wide spread in vertebrates - and therefore in many farm animals - but missing in the human organism: N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc).

Antibodies as Measure for Contact with Farm Animals
Based on a genetic mutation, humans do not produce Neu5Gc.
They can absorb sialic acid through contact with animals or by eating food of animal origin and integrate it into their glycoproteins. Contact with Neu5Gc triggers an antibody reaction in humans which can act as a measure for contact with Neu5Gc, that is, with farm animals.
The researchers led by Remo Frei have measured the concentra-tions of Neu5Gc antibodies in the serum samples of children collected within the scope of two epide-miological studies financed by the European Union (PARSIFAL and PASTURE study).
Data Comparison of Over a Thousand Children
As a comparison of the Neu5Gc antibody concentration of over a thousand children and the occur-rence of asthma has clearly shown;
"Farm children have many more antibodies against Neu5Gc in their blood - and children with more antibodies suffered considerably less from asthma," Frei says.
The positive effect of sialic acid Neu5Gc on the respiratory system was confirmed using a mouse-model: The Neu5Gc molecules consumed with food improved the pulmonary function of the mice, therefore reducing asthma symptoms.
Farm Effect to Allergy Prevention
To understand the mechanism of how Neu5Gc affects the human immune system, researchers analyzed various cells of the immune system that play a role during an inflammatory reaction.
With an interesting result - both in the children tested and on the animal model: Contact with Neu5Gc did not reduce immunoglobulin E, the antibody that frequently occurs during allergic reactions, but it initiates an anti-inflammatory reaction of the immune system.
"This takes place through so-called regulatory T-cells, which have an increased presence," Frei explains. "These T-cells dampen incorrect responses of the immune system and have a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Our research results open up opportunities for transferring the protective effect of farms to all children. In this way, we can possibly lay an important foundation stone for effective allergy prevention."
Editorial Insights, Analysis, and Developments
This study on the protective effects of N-Glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) against asthma and allergies opens up exciting possibilities for allergy prevention. The research demonstrates that early exposure to farm animals and animal-derived foods can regulate immune system responses through this non-microbial sialic acid. By showing that Neu5Gc triggers an anti-inflammatory reaction via regulatory T-cells, the study provides a potential mechanism for the "farm effect" in reducing allergy risk. These findings could lead to novel strategies for allergy prevention that mimic the protective benefits of farm environments, potentially offering a way to extend these advantages to children growing up in non-farm settings. As allergies and asthma continue to rise in industrialized nations, this research represents a significant step towards understanding and potentially mitigating these conditions, highlighting the complex interplay between environment, diet, and immune system development in early childhood - Disabled World (DW).
Attribution/Source(s): This peer reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by University of Zurich and published on 2017/07/12, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity. For further details or clarifications, University of Zurich can be contacted at uzh.ch NOTE: Disabled World does not provide any warranties or endorsements related to this article.