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Immunotoxicity Testing pp 185–194Cite as

The Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Assay Using Protein and Xenogeneic Cell Antigens

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 598))

Abstract

The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) assay has a lengthy history in immunotoxicity testing since it was one of the original functional assays included in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) immunotoxicology test panel. Based on NTP data analysis, the DTH assay is among the most predictive immunotoxicity tests when included with at least two other immune parameters. The DTH assay has the advantage of being: (1) a useful measure of cell-mediated immunity, (2) an in vivo assay where there is less opportunity for ex vivo confounders and (3) a clinically significant human correlate to the tuberculin test. Disadvantages of the DTH assay are that it is potentially labor-intensive to perform, it is somewhat resistant to automation and, when compared with the cyctotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assay, it is a relatively crude measurement. However, some groups have been attempting to address the limitations of the DTH assays (see Note 1).

The assay is related to the contact hypersensitivity response (CHR), which is covered in another chapter. The DTH response has been used as an indicator of cell-mediated immune status and is dependent upon both T helper 1(Th1)-driven responses as well as cell recruitment and chemotaxis to a local site. As a result, the DTH functional response may be influenced by disruption of either Th1-driven, antigen-dependent T cell development or mobilization of sensitized T cells to a local site. The present chapter describes four common protocols with consideration restricted to protein and xenogeneic cell immunogens.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Robert Luebke of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Health Effects Research Laboratory for providing details on his DTH protocols.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA

    Rodney R. Dietert

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA

    Terry L. Bunn

  3. Product Safety, Colgate-Palmolive Company, Piscataway, NJ, USA

    Ji-Eun Lee

Authors
  1. Rodney R. Dietert
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  2. Terry L. Bunn
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  3. Ji-Eun Lee
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, 14853, U.S.A.

    Rodney R. Dietert

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© 2010 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Dietert, R.R., Bunn, T.L., Lee, JE. (2010). The Delayed Type Hypersensitivity Assay Using Protein and Xenogeneic Cell Antigens. In: Dietert, R. (eds) Immunotoxicity Testing. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 598. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-401-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-401-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-400-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-401-2

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