Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of cis-urocanic acid (UCA) on a delayed-type hypersensitivity response in humans, a contact hypersensitivity reaction was induced on four test sites on the back of 33 volunteer subjects. The first test site was pretreated with cis-UCA immediately before application of the allergen. The second and third test sites were post-treated on the second and third days of the hypersensitivity response with cis-UCA and a class III corticosteroid, respectively. The fourth test site was used as a positive control. The cutaneous blood flow of the test sites was measured using laser Doppler flowmetry. Pretreatment with cis-UCA reduced the hypersensitivity response significantly. It is possible that cis-UCA could be used in the preventive treatment of contact hypersensitivity responses.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Fisher MS, Kripke ML (1978) Further studies on the tumourspecific suppressor cells induced by ultraviolet radiation. J Immunol 121: 1139–1144
Yoshikawa T, Rae V, Bruins-Lot W, Van den Berg JW, et al (1990) Susceptibility to effects of UVB radiation on induction of contact hypersensitivity as a risk factor for skin cancer in humans. J Invest Dermatol 95: 530–536
Howie S, Norval M, Maingay J (1986) Exposure to low dose ultraviolet radation suppresses delayed-type hypersensitivity to herpes simplex virus in mice. J Invest Dermatol 86: 125–128
Giannini MSH (1986) Suppression of pathogenesis in cutaneous leishmaniasis by UV irradiation. Infect Immun 51: 838–843
Van Weelden H, Young H, van der Leun JC (1980) Therapy of psoriasis: comparison of photochemotherapy and several variants of phototherapy. Br J Dermatol 103: 1–9
George SA, Bilsland DJ, Johnson BE, Ferguson J (1993) Narrow-band (TL-01) UVB air-conditioned phototherapy for chronic severe adult atopic dermatitis. Br J Dermatol 128: 49–56
Jekler J (1992) Phototherapy of atopic dermatitis with ultraviolet radiation. Acta Derm Venereol Suppl (Stockh) 171: 1–37
Noonan FP, De Fabo EC (1992) Immunosuppression by ultraviolet B radiation: initiation by urocanic acid. Immunol Today 13: 250–254
Norval M, Simpson TJ, Ross JA (1989) Urocanic acid and immunosuppression. Photochem Photobiol 50: 267–275
Reeve VE, Greenoak GE, Canfield PJ, Boehm-Wilcox C, et al (1989) Topical urocanic acid enhances UV-induced tumour yield and malignancy in the hairless mouse. Photochem Photobiol 49: 459–464
Ross JA, Howie SEM, Norval M, Maingay J (1988) Systemic administration of urocanic acid generates suppression of the delayed type hypersensitivity response to herpes simplex virus in a murine model of infection. Photodermatology 5: 9–14
Kurimoto I, Streilein JW (1992) Cis-urocanic acid suppression of contact hypersensitivity induction is mediated via tumor necrosis factor-alpha. J Immunol 148: 3072–3078
Harriott-Smith TG, Halliday WJ (1988) Suppression of contact hypersensitivity by short term ultraviolet irradiation: II. The role of urocanic acid. Clin Exp Immunol 72: 174–177
Wilkinson DS, Fregert S, Magnusson B, Bandmann HJ, et al (1970) Terminology of contact dermatitis. Acta Derm Venereol 50: 287–292
Willis CM, Stephens CJM, Wilkinson JD (1988) Assessment of erythema in irritant contact dermatitis. Comparison between visual scoring and laser Doppler flowmetry. Contact Dermatitis 18: 138–142
Li Q, Aoyama K, Matsushita T (1992) Evaluation of contact allergy to chemicals using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) technique. Contact Dermatitis 26: 27–33
Armitage P, Bery G (eds) Statistical methods in medical research, 2nd edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford 1987, pp 353–357
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Strien, G.A., Korstanje, M.J. Treatment of contact hypersensitivity with urocanic acid. Arch Dermatol Res 287, 564–566 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374077
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00374077