Langerhans cells that migrate to skin after intravenous infusion regulate the induction of contact hypersensitivity

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Journal of Immunology; (USA)

OSTI ID:7006794

Cruz, Jr, P D; Tigelaar, R E; Bergstresser, P R ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas (USA)

Intravenous infusion of hapten-derivatized epidermal cells (EC) in syngeneic mice leads to two competing signals for contact hypersensitivity (CH), a dominant effector signal attributable to Langerhans cells (LC) and a suppressor signal from Thy-1+ EC. In vitro exposure of LC to low dose ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation before hapten-derivatization and infusion not only results in the abrogation of their effector signal but also causes the down-regulation of subsequent CH responses. To delineate the relevance of i.v. immunization to the study of CH and of LC as the immunologic targets of low dose UVB radiation, we examined the migratory and immunogenic properties of EC after i.v. infusion. Unsorted EC migrated from blood to skin and lymphoid tissues, reaching steady state distributions at 16 h after infusion. No significant differences were observed between the trafficking of EC in syngeneic and allogeneic transfers. LC localized preferentially to skin, whereas Thy-1+ EC trafficked to skin, the thymus, mesenteric lymph nodes, and spleen. The pattern of trafficking of unirradiated and low dose UVB-irradiated LC were identical, suggesting that low dose UVB radiation had little effect on LC migration. Finally, skin graft experiments demonstrated i.v. infused, hapten-derivatized LC that migrate to skin to retain their capacity to induce CH, a property that was converted by in vitro pretreatment with low dose UVB radiation into down-regulation. These findings confirm the relevance and utility of the i.v. immunization model in the study of CH and the influence of low dose UVB on this immune response. Our data also provide a basis for investigating the role of disparate trafficking patterns in generating effector and suppressor signals when hapten-derivatized EC are employed for CH.

• OSTI ID: 7006794
• Journal Information: Journal of Immunology; (USA), Vol. 144:7; ISSN 0022-1767
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
IMMUNE REACTIONS
SKIN
TRANSPLANTS
ANTIGENS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
DERMATITIS
EPIDERMIS
IMMUNITY
LOW DOSE IRRADIATION
MICE
PANCREAS
SPLEEN
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DISTRIBUTION
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
EPITHELIUM
GLANDS
IRRADIATION
MAMMALS
ORGANS
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIATIONS
RODENTS
SKIN DISEASES
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES
560120* - Radiation Effects on Biochemicals
Cells
& Tissue Culture