The Influence of Antibody on the Induction and Elicitation of Allergic Contact Dermatitis

Abstract

The development of contact hypersensitivity after epicutaneous application of dinitrochlorobenzene in guinea pigs was suppressed by antidinitrophenyl γ1 and γ2 antibody which was injected locally at the sensitization sites. Some results suggested that small amounts of antibody may enhance rather than suppress the induction of allergic contact dermatitis. The elicitation of the delayed epidermal reactions was suppressed by antibody. These results indicate that the final outcome of sensitization to a simple chemical is dependent on several possible effects of preexistent or newly formed antibodies. They suggest that a lowered skin reactivity to an allergen in allergic contact dermatitis may be due to antibody-mediated depression of delayed hypersensitivity.

Hapten-Specific Antibodies in Allergic Contact Dermatitis in the Guinea Pig

“…Suppression of contact hypersensitivity reactions after transfer of hapten-specific antibodies has been observed in the past [8,17], The present data do not contradict these findings, although in our transfer experiments suppression only occurred with DNCB and was only clear from induration measurements. At no occasion the erythematous response was affected.…”