The integrin VLA-4 mediates leukocyte recruitment to skin inflammatory sites in vivo.

We have developed a murine model of delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) to the chemical oxazalone. Purification of T lymphocytes from immunized animals allows adoptive transfer of the specific DTH response into naive recipients injected intravenously with primed T cells. Transfer of DTH elicited by injection with immune T cells can be specifically inhibited by antibodies to the VLA-4 integrin receptor. These results suggest a major role for VLA-4 in skin inflammatory reactions in vivo.