Suppression of the elicitation phase of contact allergy by epicutaneous application of alpha-L-fucose.

Local application of alpha-L-fucose on the ear before elicitation of contact allergy to dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in BALB/c mice results in a suppression of the contact allergic response. However, local application of alpha-L-fucose at the sensitization site on the abdominal wall before sensitizing the animals with DNFB had no inhibitory effect on contact allergy. Alpha-L-fucose has been demonstrated to inhibit lymphokine activity in vitro and manifestation of cellular immunity in vivo. Our results suggest that alpha-L-fucose suppresses contact allergy by locally inhibiting the efferent phase of the cellular immune response.