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In vivo activation of Langerhans cells and dendritic epidermal T cells in the elicitation phase of murine contact hypersensitivity
Author(s) -
Daisuke Tsuruta,
Kenji Kaneda,
Hiroyuki Teramae,
Masamitsu Ishii
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1999.02698.x
Subject(s) - in vivo , dendritic cell , langerin , epidermis (zoology) , langerhans cell , t cell , microbiology and biotechnology , in vitro , immunology , biology , immune system , anatomy , biochemistry
Langerhans cells (LCs) and dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) constitute the skin immune system. To demonstrate the kinetics of in vivo activation of murine LCs and DETCs in the elicitation phase of contact hypersensitivity, we measured the cell area positively stained for I‐A and γδT‐cell receptor (or Thy‐1.2), respectively, under a fluorescence microscope at various time intervals after topical application of dinitrofluorobenzene. The fluorescence‐positive area of LCs increased in parallel with that of DETCs at 1 h and 24 h, indicating the biphasic activation of LCs and DETCs. Early activation was hapten‐specific and often exhibited close LC‐to‐DETC apposition. Experiments with in vivo administration of neutralizing anticytokine antibodies revealed that none of interferon (IFN)‐γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and interleukin (IL)‐1β were involved in the induction of early activation of LCs and DETCs, while TNF‐α and IL‐1β mediated late activation of LCs, and IFN‐γ and IL‐1β mediated that of DETCs. Our results indicate that LCs and DETCs are synchronously and biphasically activated in the epidermis during the elicitation phase of contact hypersensitivity and suggest that different mechanisms may control early and late activation.