Langerhans cells mediate the skin-induced tolerance to ovalbumin via Langerin in a murine model.

BACKGROUND

Epicutaneous sensitization is an important route of immunization for allergens in atopic diseases; however, studies have also shown that application with protein on the intact skin induces antigen-specific tolerance. Langerhans cells (LCs) play an immunosuppressive role in several inflammatory skin diseases and mouse models, and the role of LCs in the skin-induced tolerance is not fully understood.

METHODS

Langerin-DTA mice that were deficient in LCs were utilized to produce the model of skin-induced tolerance to ovalbumin (OVA). Binding of Langerin to OVA was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence. Homozygous Langerin-DTR mice that were deficient in Langerin were introduced to assess the role of Langerin in the skin-induced tolerance.

RESULTS

Application with OVA onto the intact, but not tape-stripped, skin attenuated the production of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG2a induced by subsequent subcutaneous immunization with OVA, and the inhibitory effects were abolished in Langerin-DTA mice. In contrast to the tape-stripped skin, the intact skin induced the production of IL-10 by LCs in draining lymph node after application with OVA. Langerin could bind OVA, and homozygous Langerin-DTR mice demonstrated similar humoral and cellular immune responses in the model of skin-induced tolerance compared to wide-type mice.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggested that LCs were critical in the intact skin-induced tolerance to protein antigen via Langerin, and LCs might be targeted via Langerin to regulate the immune responses in systemic and (or) skin inflammatory diseases.