Studies on the Contact Sensitization of Man with Simple Chemicals I. Specific Lymphocyte Transformation in Response to Dinitrochlororenzene Sensitization

Abstract

Erythrocytes or leukocytes treated with dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) provide a specific blastogenic stimulus when added to peripheral blood leukocyte cultures from subjects topically sensitized with DNCB. Sequential studies utilizing cultures prepared from frozen-stored leukocytes obtained during primary contact sensitization showed that specific in vitro lymphocyte transformation was first detected 7 to 21 days after in vivo application of DNCB, which correlated with the onset of allergic contact dermatitis at the primary sensitization site. Specific lymphocyte transformation reached a peak at 14 to21 days and, in some subjects not rechallenged with DNCB, a rapid decline was noted as early as 3 to 4 weeks following application of the primary sensitizing dose. Rechallenge of one subject produced an anamnestic boost in in vitro lymphocyte transformation. While the exact relationship between specific in vitro lymphocyte transformation and cell-mediated allergic contact dermatitis to DNCB remains unknown, the in vitro reaction was specific for subjects sensitized to DNCB and has provided a method of studying immune reactivity during primary immunization and anamnestic challenge to DNCB without altering host sensitivity.