Immune response to topical sodium lauryl sulfate differs from classical irritant and allergic contact dermatitis

• Published in: European journal of immunology 2024-12, Vol.54 (12), p.e2350798-n/a
• Main Authors: Nüsken, Marvin, Heinemeier, Fabian, Matzke, Silke Sabina, Porebski, Patryk, Forkel, Susann, Dasari, Prasad, Braun, Andrea, Zautner, Andreas Erich, Schön, Michael Peter, Buhl, Timo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Allergic contact dermatitis; Allergies; Animal models; Animals; CD11b antigen; CD4 antigen; Cell proliferation; Contact dermatitis; Cytokines - metabolism; Dermatitis; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - drug therapy; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact - immunology; Dermatitis, Irritant - etiology; Dermatitis, Irritant - immunology; Disease Models, Animal; Ear; Filaggrin Proteins; Flow cytometry; Homeodomain Proteins; Immune response; Immunohistochemistry; Irritant contact dermatitis; Irritants; Keratinocytes - drug effects; Keratinocytes - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; MyD88 protein; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 - genetics; Myeloid Differentiation Factor 88 - metabolism; Oxazolone; Patch test; RAG1 protein; Skin - drug effects; Skin - immunology; Skin - pathology; Skin tests; Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate - administration & dosage; Sodium lauryl sulfate; TLR3 protein; Toll-like receptors
• ISSN: 0014-2980; 1521-4141; 1521-4141
• DOI: 10.1002/eji.202350798

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is used as a control irritant in patch testing for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). However, up to 20% of those tested react to SLS, whereby the pathophysiological basis of this reaction is still unclear. To mimic patch test reactions, we repeatedly applied SLS to the skin of wild‐type mice. Reactions were compared with those in a classical ACD model induced by oxazolone and an irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) model induced by croton oil. Skin inflammation was assessed with ear thickness measurements, immunohistochemistry, qRT‐PCR, and flow cytometry. Topical SLS treatment was further investigated in Flg/Hrnr−/−, Myd88/Tlr3−/−, and Rag1−/− mouse models. All three compounds caused ear swelling with different courses. Oxazolone treatment, compared with the ICD model, resulted in a greater influx of immune cells (CD4+, MHCII+, CD11b+). Similarly, SLS did not induce immune cell infiltration or expression of selected inflammatory and regulatory cytokines. SLS induced the most pronounced keratinocyte proliferation. Compared with wild‐type mice, topical SLS application did not increase ear swelling in skin barrier deficient Flg/Hrnr−/− mice, but led to significantly delayed swelling in mice with defects in innate or adaptive immune functions (Myd88/Tlr3−/−, Rag1−/−). SLS‐induced contact dermatitis differed from classical ACD and ICD, as it elicited less pronounced immune alterations. Skin barrier impairment does not affect SLS‐induced contact dermatitis, whereas both innate and adaptive components are involved in SLS skin reactions. We investigated sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)‐skin reactions because of its relevance in patch tests of patients, and we compared its effects with ACD‐inducing oxazolone (OXA) and ICD‐inducing croton oil (CrO). SLS‐induced contact dermatitis differed from classical ACD and ICD, as it elicited less pronounced immune alterations.