title: Integrin alpha2beta1 deficiency does not affect contact hypersensitivity.
abstract: Collagens in the extracellular matrix are thought to play an important role in regulating inflammatory responses by affecting cell adhesion and migration. The contact between collagens and cells is established mainly by alpha1beta1, alpha2beta1 and alpha11beta1integrin receptors. Here, we analyzed the contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reaction in mice that were genetically deficient in the collagen receptor alpha2beta1. Integrin alpha2beta1 is widely expressed and has been suggested to play an important role in mediating inflammatory responses. CHS was induced by applying dinitrofluorobenzene to abdominal skin and challenging with the same reagent on ear skin. Macroscopically and histologically, ear swelling in alpha2beta1-deficient mice did not differ from that in wild-type control mice. Immunohistological detection of infiltrated T lymphocytes, neutrophils and mast cells in inflamed ear skin revealed similar numbers in controls and integrin alpha2beta1-deficient animals. Our results suggest that the adhesive functions of integrin alpha2beta1 are dispensable for the CHS response; they may be compensated for by the collagen receptor alpha1beta1 or other collagen receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Kerpener Str. 62, 50937 Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Manon C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Zweers
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Siewe
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wickenhauser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krieg
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roers
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eckes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D020405:Dermis / Q000276:immunology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000276:immunology; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D038982:Integrin alpha2beta1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout
chemical_list: D038982:Integrin alpha2beta1