1081 Epicutaneous Natural Rubber Latex Sensitization Induces Localized Th2-Dominated Dermatitis and Strong IgE Response Harri Tapio Alenius*, Maili Lehto*, /man Amghaiab*, Marja-Leena Majuri*, Guoying Wang*, Henrik Wolff*, Kristiina Turjanmaa§, Antti Lauerma¥ Timo Reunala§, Timo Palosuo~ *Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland §Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland ¥Helsinki University Hospital for Skin and Allergic Diseases, Helsinki ~National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland In addition to immediate type I allergy symptoms, natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy may manifest as protein contact dermatitis on the hands of health-care workers and other NRL glove users. We examined the role of repeated epicutaneous (EC) sensitization with NRL proteins in the development of dermatitis and antibody response in a murine model. EC application with NRL or glove extract (GE) to the shaved and tape-stripped mouse skin, but not with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) control, produced significant influx of mononuclear cells, T cells and eosinophils to the sensitized skin sites (P<0.001). The number of degranulated mast cells in NRLor GE-sensitized skin sites was significantly higher compared to PBS-treated sites (p<0.0l). IL-4 mRNA expression was markedly increased in NRLand GE-sensitized skin sites compared to PBS-treated sites (p<0.001). Moreover, significant increase in MIPl-alpha and M1PI-beta mRNA was found in NRLor GE-sensitized skin sites (p<0.0 I). EC application with NRL induced a striking increase in total and specific IgE levels but not in IgG2a levels. In contrast, intraperitoneal (IP) immunization with NRL combined with aluminum hydroxide induced a strong IgG2a response. Interestingly, EC-application with NRL elicited strong IgE response against Hey b 6.01 but not against Hev bl. In contrast, IP immunization with NRL elicited strong IgG2a production to Hev bl but not to Hev b 6.01. These results demonstrate that EC-sensitization with NRL proteins induces Th2-dominated dermal inflammation and strong IgE response in a murine model. EC-sensitization to NRL proteins eluting from the gloves may therefore play also in man an important role in the development of hand dermatitis and NRL-specific IgE antibodies.