title: Secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (CCL21) is upregulated in allergic contact dermatitis.
abstract: Chemokines are important players in the development of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). The participation of secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (CCL21) is essential in the induction of the disease due to its expression in lymphatic vessels and in secondary lymphoid organs. Since there is no information about its participation during the effector phase of ACD, we studied this chemokine in patients already diagnosed with ACD, who were challenged with the relevant positive and negative (control) antigens. All patients showed a specific antigen-induced immune response characterized by early expression of inflammatory markers in blood endothelial cells followed by dermal accumulation of mononuclear cells with an important increase in infiltration of CXCR3+ but not of CCR7+ cells. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed low levels of CCL21 in lymphatic vessels at 2 h, whereas they were significantly increased at 10 and 48 h in all positive patch tests. In contrast, very low expression of this chemokine was observed in skin biopsies from the control site at 48 h. In addition, Langerin+ cells, which were present in dermis from positive patch tests at 2 h, were diminished in number at 10 and 48 h, but a significant number of those cells was still present in dermal areas of the control site at 48 h. We demonstrate for the first time that CCL21, a constitutively expressed chemokine, is strongly upregulated in human lymphatic vessels during a Th1/Tc1 allergic inflammatory response. This can provide the signal required for CCR7+ cells to leave the skin through CCL21-positive lymphatic vessels.
authors.affiliation: Inmunología, Facultad Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina. hserra@bioclin.fcq.unc.edu.ar
authors.forename: Horacio Marcelo
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Yanina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eberhard
authors.forename: Andrea Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Norberto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gallino
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gagliardi
authors.forename: Carlos Eduardo
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Baena-Cagnani
authors.forename: Alejandro Ruiz
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Lascano
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.forename: Ana Lía
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uguccioni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001706:Biopsy; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C515478:CCL21 protein, human; C515370:CCR7 protein, human; C121916:CD207 protein, human; C515187:CXCR3 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054421:Chemokine CCL21; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D037241:Mannose-Binding Lectins; D054400:Receptors, CCR7; D054367:Receptors, CXCR3; D019707:Receptors, Chemokine