title: In vivo evidence that ultraviolet B-induced suppression of allergic contact sensitivity is associated with functional inactivation of Th1 cells.
abstract: Having previously shown in vitro that ultraviolet B (UVB)-treated Langerhans cells (LC) can induce antigen-specific proliferative unresponsiveness and tolerance in Th1 (but not Th2) cells, we wanted to determine whether cutaneous exposure to UVB radiation prior to hapten-painting would produce similar differential effects in hapten-reactive Th1 and Th2 T cells in vivo. C3H/HeN mice were exposed to UVB (200 J/m2/day) through abdominal skin on days -4 through -1, followed by painting dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) on the irradiated skin on days -1 and 0. Induction of allergic contact sensitivity (CS) was assayed by ear swelling responses to DNFB and by the proliferative responses of draining lymph node cells (LNC) to DNBS. UVB-irradiated and hapten-painted mice (in comparison to a control panel of unirradiated and DNFB-painted mice) displayed suppressed ear swelling responses to DNFB and suppressed LNC proliferation to DNBS. However, LNC from either panel of mice proliferated well in response to exogenous interleukin 2 (IL-2). To examine effects on Th1 and Th2 cells, lymphokines were assayed from supernatants of DNBS-stimulated LNC. The Th1-associated lymphokines, interferon-gamma and IL-2, were the predominant cytokines detected in samples taken from unirradiated and DNFB-painted mice. Both of these cytokines were reduced markedly in samples from UVB-treated and DNFB-painted mice. Except for miniscule amounts of IL-10, no Th2-associated lymphokines were detected in LNC supernatants from either panel of mice. These results suggest that UVB-induced suppression of CS in vivo is associated with functional inactivation of hapten-reactive Th1 cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mosmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edelbaum
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schopf
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Bergstresser
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cruz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000032:analysis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D004139:Dinitrofluorobenzene