Suppression of allergic contact dermatitis by alpha-L-fucose.

We observed that L-fucose could suppress the skin reaction of allergic contact dermatitis induced by dinitrochlorobenzene. This observation was ascertained by histological examination as well as by visual inspection. The degrees of the acanthosis and the spongiosis were significantly slighter in the skin lesions of guinea pigs that received L-fucose injection, than in those of control animals. The number of infiltrated mononuclear cells in epidermis and dermis in the skin lesions as much less in the animals received L-fucose injection than that in the skin lesions of control animals. On the other hand, L-fucose had no suppressive effect on irritant contact dermatitis induced by high concentration (4%) of dinitrochlorobenzene.