EDIP - contact sensitisers

Experimental dermato immuno pathology

Contact sensitizers

Contact allergenicity:

An alternative non animal model has been established and validated  for studying the sensitization phase of  immune hypersensitive reactions by contact allergens/irritants that can be related to Langerhans' cells (LC) migration and up-regulated maturation. Our studies conclusively demonstrate that chemicals with the ability of inducing accelerated epidermal LC migration and maturation are potent contact sensitizers. This model is also suitable for identifying non-allergenic small molecular irritants. Therefore, human organotypic skin explant culture (hOSEC ) model is regarded as an ideal non-animal alternative for identifying potential allergens and irritants that might be present in pharmaceutical and household products.

Since the results might differ due to the uses of skin from different donors, we have generated several human keratinocyte, melanocyte and endothelial and smooth muscle cell lines by immortalization techniques. These cell lines are being used to generate in vitro standard skin construct where the (CD34+) progenitor cells have been incorporated which are differentiated to skin dendritic cells, an essential step for mimicking the in vivo skin equivalent. Such standard skin will be used in future for screening the contact allergens and irritants and to study mechanism of inflammation and immune sensitisation processes. It is our pragmatic optism that such skin construct can be used to demonstrate the potency of peptide vaccines that are being produced for infectious diseases and cancers.

This part of the studies generated
one Ph.D. thesis
several publication in the field of immune toxicology
and a patent application are at present being prepared

Future plans

This research is supported by:

Industry:
NOVARTIS
Yamanouchi
Christian Dior
Pharmaleit

Benevolent trust funds
Dr. Hadwen Trust, UK

Research platforms for the establishment of non-animal alternative models
ZON-MW

Co-operation

The National Cancer Institute, the Netherlands
(esp. part on basic aspects of skin biology)

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Research topics
Leprosy / Leishmania
Melanoma / Vitilligo
Psoriasis
Contact sensitizers
Reseach group
Publications
TIRC - Tissue Immune Reactivity Club

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