Functional capacities of human skin lymph cells derived from diphenylcyclopropenone-induced allergic contact dermatitis

In two healthy volunteers a peripheral subcutaneous lymph vessel on the lower leg draining a defined skin area on the foot was cannulated by means of microsurgery. In one volunteer previously sensitized to diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), an elicitation reaction was induced in the drained skin area. In the second volunteer, DPCP was applied to the drained skin area 4 days after cannulation for induction and 8 days later for elicitation of contact hypersensitivity. Cells isolated from the lymph during the different phases of the experiments were assayed for antigen-presenting and proliferative capacity, alone or in the presence of Concanavalin A, Tetanus toxoid, or DPCP. Furthermore, lymph cells were cocultured with irradiated allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and non-irradiated allogeneic PBMC with irradiated lymph cells