Studies on contact hypersensitivity to chromium in the guinea pig. Inhibition of the migration of macrophages by chromium salts.

Abstract

Macrophage migration inhibition and migration inhibitory factor (MIF) production were investigated in guinea pigs sensitized to potassium dichromate. The migration of peritoneal exudate cells from hypersensitive guinea pigs was inhibited by chromium salts independent of their valency. On the other hand, MIF was produced in the supernatant of lymph node cell cultures only with trivalent but not with hexa- or divalent chromium salts. Peritoneal exudate cells from tolerant animals were not inhibited and lymph node cells from these animals did not produce MIF upon challenge with appropriate hapten. Peritoneal exudate cells from desensitized (skin test-negative) guinea pigs were less inhibited than cells from hypersensitive animals, but significantly more than cells from normal controls. Peritoneal exudate cells from animals which had been submitted to the sensitizing procedure, but did not show apparent skin reactions to epicutaneous tests, gave very variable results in <i>in vitro</i> tests ranging from normal macrophage migration to complete inhibition. Therefore, the macrophage migration test seems to be more sensitive than the routine epicutaneous skin test.