Amphiregulin is not essential for induction of contact hypersensitivity

• Published in: Allergology international 2010, Vol.59 (3), p.277-284
• Main Authors: Yagami, Akiko, Kajiwara, Naoki, Oboki, Keisuke, Ohno, Tatsukuni, Morita, Hideaki, Sunnarborg, Susan W, Okumura, Ko, Ogawa, Hideoki, Saito, Hirohisa, Nakae, Susumu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amphiregulin; Animals; Cell Movement - genetics; Cell Proliferation; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Cytokines - pharmacology; Dendritic Cells - immunology; Dendritic Cells - metabolism; Dendritic Cells - pathology; Dermatitis, Contact - blood; Dermatitis, Contact - genetics; Dermatitis, Contact - immunology; Dinitrofluorobenzene - administration & dosage; EGF Family of Proteins; Eosinophil Peroxidase - blood; Glycoproteins - genetics; Glycoproteins - immunology; Glycoproteins - metabolism; Immunoglobulins - blood; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - immunology; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Peroxidase - blood; Th2 Cells - immunology
• ISSN: 1323-8930; 1440-1592
• DOI: 10.2332/allergolint.09-OA-0149

Amphiregulin (AR) is expressed in Th2 cells, rather than Th1 cells, and plays an important role in Th2 cell/cytokine-mediated host defense against nematodes. We also found earlier that AR mRNA expression was strongly upregulated in inflamed tissue during Th2 cell/cytokine-mediated fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS), suggesting a contribution of AR to the induction of those responses. To elucidate the role of AR in the induction of FITC- or dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced CHS, AR-deficient mice were sensitized and/or challenged with FITC or DNFB epicutaneously. The levels of FITC-mediated skin dendritic cell (DC) migration and FITC-specific lymph node cell proliferation and cytokine production were assessed by flow cytometry, [3H]-thymidine incorporation and ELISA, respectively, after FITC sensitization. The degree of ear swelling, the activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) in inflammatory sites and the levels of FITC-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) in sera were determined by histological analysis, colorimetric assay and ELISA, respectively, after FITC challenge. DC migration and FITC-specific lymph node cell proliferation and cytokine production were normal in the AR-deficient mice. Ear swelling, tissue MPO and EPO activities and FITC-specific serum Ig levels were also similar in AR-deficient and -sufficient mice. Amphiregulin is not essential for the induction of FITC- or DNFB-induced CHS responses in mice.