title: Use of a B cell marker (B220) to discriminate between allergens and irritants in the local lymph node assay.
abstract: It has been shown that exposure of mice to contact allergens induces B cell activation in the draining lymph nodes (DLN), as seen by an increase in the percentage of B220+ or IgG/IgM+ cells. We have now examined whether the measurement of the percentage of B220+ cells could be used as an alternative or supplementary endpoint for the local lymph node assay (LLNA) to differentiate between allergenic responses and those few irritants that induce low-level proliferation in the DLN. Mice were treated on the ears, daily for 3 consecutive days, with various allergens (1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, alpha-hexylcinnamaldehyde, trinitrochlorobenzene, isoeugenol, and eugenol) or irritants (benzalkonium chloride, methyl salicylate, salicylic acid, and sodium lauryl sulfate). The DLN were excised 72 h following the final topical treatment, and the cells were prepared for B220 analysis using flow cytometry. The percentage of B220+ cells in lymph nodes derived from test and vehicle-treated animals was determined for 5 allergens and 4 irritants tested in multiple experiments (n = 3 to 17). As expected, the percentage of B220+ B cells was increased with each of the allergens tested, whereas irritant treatment did not cause similar increases. Moreover, the method was reproducible. For example, the strong allergen, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and the weak allergen, alpha-hexylcinnamaldehyde were identified as allergens in 17 of 17 and in 12 of 13 experiments, respectively. The percentage of B220 values for each chemical treatment (41 observations for allergens; 28 observations for irritants) versus the percentage of B220 values for the concurrent vehicle controls were plotted, and a classification tree model was developed that defined a B220 test:vehicle ratio cutoff of 1.25 for discriminating between allergens (>1.25) and irritants (<1.25). Using this B220 test:vehicle ratio of 1.25 in 93% of the 69 independent observations made, the allergens and irritants tested were identified correctly. Finally, to evaluate the performance of this model in a second independent laboratory, 3 allergens and 2 irritants were tested. Each of the allergens and irritants were classified correctly using the B220 test:vehicle ratio cutoff of 1.25. These data demonstrate that analysis of B220 expression in DLN may be useful in differentiating between allergen and irritant responses induced in chemically treated mice.
authors.affiliation: The Procter & Gamble Company, Miami Valley Laboratories, P.O. Box 538707, Cincinnati, Ohio 4523-8707, USA. gerberick.gf@pg.com
authors.forename: G Frank
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Gerberick
authors.forename: Lynn W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Cruse
authors.forename: Cindy A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Ben C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Hulette
authors.forename: Joel G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Chaney
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Rebecca J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dearman
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kimber
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D004431:Ear, External / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D007509:Irritants / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000633:toxicity*; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D023441:Local Lymph Node Assay; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; D007509:Irritants; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens