title: The pathophysiology of allergic contact hypersensitivity.
abstract: During the past decade, much has been learned about the pathophysiology of ACH--yet much remains to be determined. Although LC, IL-1, IL-2, IFN-gamma, and the T effector circuits have been extensively studied, it is still not clear whether it is LC- or keratinocyte-derived IL-1 that is crucial in ACH, whether IL-1 acts primarily on T-cells or the APC, whether other cytokines are involved in the circuit (TNF, KTGF?), the exact relationships between T effector, T memory, and other T helper cells, what the functions of mast cells and basophils are in the allergic reaction, and how the regulatory circuits (including prostaglandins and eicosanoids) affect the outcome of ACH. The mechanism of suppression remains even less well understood despite the potential application of this knowledge to the treatment of diseases caused by Type IV hypersensitivity. A better understanding of the ACH mechanism will lead not only to more sophisticated ACH treatment, but also to a better understanding of the cell-mediated events of cutaneous viral replication, organ transplantation, and tumor growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
authors.forename: D V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Belsito
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000502:physiology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016207:Cytokines; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000276:immunology; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001685:Biological Factors; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D006241:Haptens