Regulation of lymphocyte proliferation in contact sensitivity: homeostatic mechanisms and a possible explanation of antigenic competition.

Epicutaneous exposure of mice to the contact sensitizing chemicals 4-ethoxymethylene-2-phenyl-oxazol-5-one (oxazolone) and 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene (picryl chloride) causes an inhibition of proliferative responses induced following subsequent topical challenge. The effects on lymphocyte proliferation comprise both transient antigen non-specific and more persistent hapten-specific mechanisms. Pretreatment of mice with one chemical 5 days prior to sensitization with a second, at which time antigen non-specific influences on proliferative responses are manifest, results in depression of contact sensitization as measured by changes in ear thickness following challenge. If, however, the period between pretreatment and sensitization is extended the inhibition of contact sensitization disappears in parallel with a decline in the antigen non-specific depression of lymph node cell proliferation. These data reveal that there exist two homeostatic mechanisms which control proliferation in response to challenge with at least some antigens, and that the extent of lymphocyte proliferation directly influences the degree of contact sensitization achieved. Moreover these results demonstrate that, in some instances at least, competition between antigens may be a function of immunoregulatory influences on lymphocyte proliferation.