ORAL INDUCTION OF TOLERANCE TO NICKEL SENSITIZATION IN MICE

Citation
Imw. Vanhoogstraten et al., ORAL INDUCTION OF TOLERANCE TO NICKEL SENSITIZATION IN MICE, Journal of investigative dermatology, 101(1), 1993, pp. 26-31
Citations number
51
Categorie Soggetti
Dermatology & Venereal Diseases
ISSN journal
0022202X
Volume
101
Issue
1
Year of publication
1993
Pages
26 - 31
Database
ISI
SICI code
0022-202X(1993)101:1<26:OIOTTN>2.0.ZU;2-O
Abstract
Antigen contact via the alimentary tract prior to sensitization may re sult in systemic immunologic unresponsiveness (''oral tolerance''). Th e induction of oral tolerance seems an attractive strategy to combat u ndesired immune responses, such as allograft rejection and autoimmune and allergic diseases. We describe clear and reproducible sensitizatio n to nickel in mice reared under nickel-free conditions. Hypersensitiv ity was induced by injecting nickel sulfate intradermally into the fla nk skin and elicited by injecting the metal salt into the pinnae of th e ears. The effectiveness of orally induced hyporesponsiveness could b e inferred from a low degree of hypersensitivity obtained with mice ra ised and maintained in cages with nickel-releasing covers and water ni pples. This mouse model for the assay of nickel hypersensitivity was u sed for oral tolerance studies by administrating non-toxic doses of ni ckel sulfate in drinking water or intragastrically prior to sensitizat ion. In these animals, the development of delayed-type hypersensitivit y was suppressed in a dose-dependent way, and the hyporesponsiveness c ould be transferred by CD8+ cells. The antigen specificity of this ora l tolerance could be demonstrated by the concomitant use of sensitizat ion and challenge procedures for nickel and chromium. The hypersensiti vity assay described provides a versatile, highly reproducible experim ental model to study immunoregulation of oral tolerance to clinically relevant metal allergens.