Potential role for epidermal Langerhans cells in nicotinic acid-induced vasodilatation in the mouse.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective is to study the role of cutaneous Langerhans cells on a mouse model of nicotinic acid-induced vasodilatation.


METHODS
Nicotinic acid-induced vasodilatation was studied in the mouse ear by laser Doppler flowmetry prior to and at intervals after Langerhans cells depletion by treatment with hydrocortisone.


RESULTS
Nicotinic acid evoked a dose-dependent increase in perfusion in the mouse ear. Treatment with 1 % hydrocortisone resulted in substantial depletion of Langerhans cells, accompanied by failure to show vasodilatation in response to nicotinic acid. Partial recovery of Langerhans cells on day 53 post-treatment was associated with a partial vasodilatation response. To exclude non-specific effects of hydrocortisone on arachidonic acid metabolism, the ability of the mice to mount an edema response to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate was evaluated. On day 9 post hydrocortisone, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate failed to evoke an edema response. However, on day 22 post hydrocortisone, the edema response in the hydrocortisone-treated animals was indistinguishable from that of control animals.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Langerhans cells are responsible for nicotinic acid-induced vasodilatation.
Carballo-Jane
E
E
Department of Pharmacology, Merck Research Laboratories, Rahway, PO Box 2000, RY80Y-140, Rahway, New Jersey 07065, USA. ester_carballojane@merck.com
Ciecko
T
T
Luell
S
S
Woods
J W
JW
Zycband
E I
EI
Waters
M G
MG
Forrest
M J
MJ
D000818:Animals; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000628:therapy; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009525:Niacin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009525:Niacin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D007213:Indomethacin