Induction and suppression of contact sensitivity by liposomes carrying molecules from haptenated epidermal cells.
Liposomes carrying molecules from trinitrophenylated epidermal cells (TNP-EC) liposomes stimulated the hapten-specific proliferation of lymphocytes in vitro in our previous study. In order to analyze the role of TNP-EC liposomes in vivo, they were injected into naive mice. TNP-EC liposomes induced contact sensitivity effectively when injected either s.c. or i.p. Contact sensitivity induced by TNP-EC liposomes was a long-lived T cell-mediated reaction. A s.c. injection of liposomes with molecules from TNP-Ia antigen-depleted epidermal cells [TNP-EC (Ia-) liposomes] failed to induce contact sensitivity and developed unresponsiveness. This unresponsiveness was transferred by T cells, i.e., suppressor T cells. Therefore, it is suggested that Ia antigens in epidermal cells play a critical role for induction and suppression of contact sensitivity.
D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000209:etiology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006241:Haptens / Q000276:immunology*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008081:Liposomes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000276:immunology
D006241:Haptens; D008081:Liposomes; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes