title: UVA irradiation of the eye modulates the contact hypersensitivity of the skin and intestines by affecting mast cells in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation before allergic sensitization induces immunosuppression, but the precise mechanism remained unclear. In this study, we examined the influence of UVA irradiation of the eye on contact hypersensitivity (CHS) and the role of mast cells in CHS.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used two types of haptens, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC: a Th2 type hapten) and 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one (oxazolone: a Th1 type hapten). A 300 kJ/m(2) dose of UVA irradiation was delivered to the eyes. After UVA irradiation, we sensitized abdominal shaved skin and challenged the ear epidermis and colons of these mice with each hapten.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After UVA irradiation, the CHS of the skin and colon were not inhibited in the FITC-sensitized mice. However, in the oxazolone-sensitized mice, only the CHS of the skin was inhibited by UVA irradiation. The inflammation of the colon became more severe after UVA irradiation. In mast cell-deficient (W/Wv) mice sensitized to FITC, the CHS was weaker than that in WT mice. Moreover, the reduction of immunosuppression in ear swelling was seen for one of the two models they used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the mast cells induced by UVA irradiation of the eye have different roles in the epidermis and colon and have different responses to different haptens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan; Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Suzuka University of Medical Science, Mie, Japan.
authors.forename: Yurika
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamate
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiramoto
authors.forename: Emiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Eisuke F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003877:Dermatitis, Contact / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
keywords: 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl-2-oxazolin-5-one; contact hypersensitivity; fluorescein isothiocyanate; ultraviolet A