AllogeneicLymphocyte Stimulating Capacity of Contact Sensitized Epidermal Cells in Mouse

Kim, Soo Chan; Hwang, Seon Young

Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis is a prototype of delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Langerhans cells, keratinocytes and T lyrnphocytes play major roles in the pathogenesis of allergic contact dermatitis. We observed Langerhans cells and keratinocytes in contact sensitized epidermal sheets of mice and performed mixed epidermal cell lymphocytes reaction with normal epidermal cells and contact sensitized epidermal cells to determine the lymphocyte stimulating capacity of contact sensitized epidermal cell. We obtained following results : 1. The Langerhans cells were decreased in number and morphologically damaged in contact sensitized epidermis. 2. Ia antigen expression on keratinocytes was detected in almost all contact sensitized epidermal sheets. 3. The allogeneic lymphocyte stimulating capacity of contact sensitized epidermal cells was greater than that of normal epidermal cells. 4. The allogeneic lymphocyte stimulating capacity of contact sensitized epiderrnal cells was lost after treatment of epidermal cells with anti Ia antibody and complement. From these results, it is conceivable that the contact sensitized epidermal cells can amplify the immune reactions by stimulating the lynphocytes which are infiltrated in contact sensitized epidermis.