Antigen formation in metal contact sensitivity

Induction of Delayed Reaction to Dinitrophenylated Lymphocytes in Guinea Pigs with Contact Sensitivity to DNCB

“…The widely held concept that low molecular weight contactants combine with skin proteins to form a complete antigen is an unlikely explanation for every case of contact sensitization. Recently, some investigators have claimed that a contactant will attach to viable lymphocytes in vitro and that the combination forms an immunogenic unit [1,5,6,11], It has also been demonstrated that the combination actually occurs in vivo during contact sensitization [8]. These findings indicate that the cell membrane of lymphocytes plays an important role as a carrier substance in development of contact sensitivity.…”

“…A number of experiments using hapten-conjugated lymphoid cells as immunogenic units for contact sensitivity or target cells for cell-mediated Iympholysis has been reported [1,5,6,11,12]. However, the degree of cou pling of hapten to cells has received less attention, despite the frequent use of the cells.…”

“…In recent experiments concerning in vitro sensitization of lymphoid cells, it has been shown that the initial steps of sensitization of contact sensitivity can be achieved by direct conjugation of low molecular weight contactants with lymphoid cells [1,5,6,11]. Furthermore, evidence has been presented which shows that the conjugation actually occurs in vivo and hapten-con jugated cells accumulate in regional lymph nodes during contact sensitization by painting with DNCB [8], The present work indicates that cellular anti bodies capable of reacting with DNP-lymphocytes as well as DNP-epidermal protein are produced in animals with contact sensitivity to DNCB.…”

DEMONSTRATION OF DNP GROUPS ON IN VITRO DINITROPHENYLATED LYMPH NODE CELLS OF THE GUINEA PIG BY A SCANNING IMMUNOELECTRON MICROSCOPIC METHOD

“…The induction of contact sensitivity and production of immunogenic unresponsiveness in contact sensitivity systems have been extensively studied. The current studies using a variety of in vitro hapten modified cells (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9) suggest that contact sensitizing agents may bind to lymphoid cells in vivo, and, therefore, function in conjugation with certain membrane constituents as immunogenic and tolerogenic moieties. Our previous works using the immunofluorescent method (10)(11)(12) have established that the conjugation of a contact sensitizing agent with a cell membrane actually occurs in vivo when 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene is introduced into the body.…”