Intrapulmonary Pretreatment by Metal-Fume Components Causing Inhibition of Delayed Hypersensitivity

Abstract

Earlier experiments have demonstrated that cutaneous hypersensitivity evoked by components from stainless steel welding fumes, such as chromium or nickel, may be inhibited by treatment with these haptens, given by intratracheal, intrapulmonary or oral administration prior to the sensitization procedure (Hicks and Caldas 1985). The inhibitory effects were interpreted as manifestations of tolerance. Further investigations were performed to decide which component of the welding-fume particles contributes most to such tolerance. These properties have previously been tested using potassium dichromate. However, the form of chromium in stainless steel metal fumes is predominantly as the chromate, which interacts with protein by a tanning-like process differing from that of dichromate. It was therefore desirable to verify that chromate could also induce tolerance. It was desirable also to investigate nickel, as this did not appear to produce consistent effects.