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The Journal of Immunology, 2001, 166: 3672-3677.
Copyright © 2001 by The American Association of Immunologists

Functional Caspase-1 Is Required for Langerhans Cell Migration and Optimal Contact Sensitization in Mice1

Christos Antonopoulos*, Marie Cumberbatch{dagger}, Rebecca J. Dearman{dagger}, Richard J. Daniel*, Ian Kimber{dagger} and Richard W. Groves2,*

* Center for Dermatology, Department of Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom; and {dagger} Syngenta Central Toxicology Laboratory, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, United Kingdom


    Abstract
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Langerhans cell (LC) migration from epidermis to draining lymph node is a critical first step in cutaneous immune responses. Both TNF-{alpha} and IL-1{beta} are important signals governing this process, but the potential regulatory role of IL-1{alpha} processing by caspase-1 is unknown. In wild-type (WT) mice, application of the contact allergens 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzine and oxazolone lead to a marked reduction in epidermal LC numbers, but in caspase-1-deficient mice this reduction was not observed. Moreover, although intradermal injection of TNF-{alpha} (50 ng) induced epidermal LC migration in WT mice, this cytokine failed to induce LC migration in caspase-1-deficient mice. Intradermal IL-1{beta} (50 ng) caused a similar reduction in epidermal LC numbers in both WT and caspase-1-deficient mice, indicating that, given an appropriate signal, caspase-1-deficient epidermal LC are capable of migration. Contact hypersensitivity to both 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzine and oxazolone was inhibited in caspase-1-deficient mice, indicating a functional consequence of the LC migration defect. In organ culture the caspase-1 inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk, but not control peptide, potently inhibited the epidermal LC migration that occurs in this system, and reduced spontaneous migration of LC was observed in skin derived from caspase-1-deficient mice. Moreover, Ac-YVAD-cmk applied to BALB/c mouse skin before application of contact sensitizers inhibited LC migration and contact hypersensitivity in vivo. Taken together, these data indicate that caspase-1 may play a central role in the regulation of LC migration and suggest that the activity of this enzyme is amenable to control by specific inhibitors both in vivo and in vitro.


    Introduction
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Langerhans cells (LC)3 are bone marrow-derived professional APCs that reside within the epidermis (1). In response to a variety of stimuli, most notably the topical application of Ag, LC migrate from epidermis via afferent lymphatics to draining lymph nodes where, as fully differentiated dendritic cells (DC), they present processed Ag to T lymphocytes (2, 3). LC thereby play a central role in cutaneous immune defense and are likely to be of key pathogenic importance in a number of human skin diseases, including allergic contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, and psoriasis.

LC migration from epidermis to lymph node is a complex and tightly regulated process, and current data suggest that IL-1{beta} and TNF-{alpha} are key cytokine signals involved in this process (4, 5). Intradermal injection of either cytokine in murine skin leads to rapid LC migration from epidermis and subsequent accumulation of DC in draining lymph nodes (6, 7). Moreover, both anti-IL-1{beta} and anti-TNF-{alpha} neutralizing Abs inhibit hapten-induced LC migration from murine skin in vivo (5). Both cytokines are available in the epidermal microenvironment, where TNF-{alpha} may be produced by both keratinocytes (8) and LC (9, 10, 11), although in murine skin IL-1{beta} is primarily a product of LC (12). It is clear also that keratinocytes and LC express surface receptors for both cytokines and thereby can respond appropriately to them (13, 14, 15).

The observation that contact sensitization can be inhibited by intradermal injection of blocking anti-IL-1{beta} Ab before topical application of Ag (16) has led to particular interest in defining the function of IL-1 family molecules in cutaneous immune responses. This expanding family of structurally related cytokines has central functions in host defense, including activation of endothelium and induction of secondary mediators, such as GM-CSF and TNF-{alpha} (17). IL-1{beta} is synthesized as an inactive 31-kDa precursor molecule that requires cleavage by the cysteine protease caspase-1 (previously known as IL-1-converting enzyme) (18) to release biologically active mature 17-kDa IL-1{beta}.

In view of the role of caspase-1 in regulating the processing and release of IL-1{beta} (18), we hypothesized that it might represent a useful target for manipulation of LC migration. To this end we have used caspase-1-deficient mice (19) and specific caspase inhibitors to define the role of caspase-1 in experimental LC migration and induction of murine contact hypersensitivity (CHS).


    Materials and Methods
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
Cytokines, Abs, and other reagents

Recombinant murine IL-1{beta} (sp. act., 1–2 x 108 U/mg) and TNF-{alpha} (sp. act, 2 x 108 U/mg, by L929 cytotoxicity assay) were purchased from R&D Systems (Oxon, U.K.) and Genzyme Diagnostics (West Malling, U.K.), respectively. Biotin-conjugated rat anti-mouse I-Ad/I-Ed mAb 2G9 and streptavidin-FITC conjugates were purchased from PharMingen (San Diego, CA). Caspase-1 inhibitor II (Ac-YVAD-cmk) and caspase-3 inhibitor III (Ac-DEVD-cmk, a YVAD analog that does not inhibit caspase-1) were obtained from Calbiochem (Beeston, U.K.), and all other reagents, including contact sensitizers 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzine (DNFB) and oxazolone (OX), were purchased from Sigma (Poole, U.K.) unless otherwise indicated.

Animals

Caspase-1 knockout and wild-type (WT) littermate control mice were gifts from Dr. W Wong (BASF Corp., Worcester, MA) and have previously been described in detail (19). For caspase inhibitor experiments, female BALB/c mice were purchased from Harlan (East Sussex, U.K.). All animals were housed in a conventional animal facility with a 12-h light, 12-h dark cycle. Mice were used between 8 and 12 wk of age and in individual experiments were age-matched to within 2 wk. All experiments were conducted under provisions of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act, 1986.

Contact hypersensitivity

Groups of at least three mice were sensitized by application of 150 µl of 0.5% DNFB in acetone/olive oil (AOO; 4/1) to abdominal skin. Five days later, 10 µl of 0.25% DNFB was applied to dorsal and ventral surfaces of the right ear, and AOO alone was applied to the left ear. Twenty-four, 48, and 72 h later, challenge-induced ear swelling (relative to the vehicle-treated ear) was measured using a modified spring-loaded micrometer (Mitutoya, Tokyo, Japan). In parallel experiments OX was used in the same volumes, and diluent was used at concentrations of 1% (sensitization) and 0.5% (elicitation). In experiments to assess the effect of caspase-1 inhibitors on CHS, mice were pretreated with 300 µl of 400 µM Ac-YVAD-cmk, Ac-DEVD-cmk, or vehicle (DMSO) 1 h before application of sensitizer and 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after sensitization. Care was taken to ensure that sensitizer was only applied to the pretreated area of skin. All experiments were performed a minimum of three times.

Immunohistochemical staining of LC

LC numbers and morphology were evaluated en face in epidermal sheets prepared as described previously (20). Briefly, ears were excised and split into dorsal and ventral halves using fine forceps. Dorsal ear halves were then incubated in 0.02 M EDTA at 37°C for 90 min to allow separation of epidermis and dermis. Epidermal sheets were carefully peeled away from dermis, washed twice in PBS, fixed in acetone at -20°C for 20 min, and washed again. Epidermal sheets were then incubated with rat anti-mouse I-Ad/I-Ed Ab diluted to 5 µg/ml in PBS with 0.1% BSA for 45 min at room temperature, washed, and subsequently incubated for an additional 45 min with FITC-labeled anti-rat Ig secondary Ab diluted 1/100 in PBS with 0.1% BSA. Following further washing, epidermal sheets were mounted whole in glycerol, slides were coded, and LC were counted in 10 high power fields in the central portion of the ear using an eye-piece with a calibrated grid and a fluorescence microscope (Axiophot, Zeiss, New York, NY). The evaluator was blinded to the nature of slides examined. Results are expressed as the mean ± SEM numbers of LC per square millimeter of epidermis. At least four ears were used per experimental group, and all experiments were performed a minimum of three times.

In vivo LC migration in response to DNFB

Dorsal mouse ear skin (four ears per experimental group) was painted with DNFB (0.5% in AOO) and harvested 4 h later. Epidermal sheets were then prepared and immunostained, and LC were counted as described above. In some experiments ear skin was pretreated with 10 µl of the caspase inhibitor Ac-YVAD-cmk or Ac-DEVD-cmk (200 µM in DMSO) 1 h before application of DNFB.

In vivo LC migration in response to IL-1{beta} and TNF-{alpha}

Cytokines were either supplied as or reconstituted in sterile solutions of PBS containing 0.1% BSA as carrier protein. Mice (three per group) received 30-µl (50-ng) intradermal injections of cytokine into both ears. Controls included mice that had received an equivalent volume of diluent with carrier protein alone or were untreated. Ears were harvested either 0.5 h after TNF-{alpha} injection or 4 h after IL-1{beta} or vehicle injection and were processed for immunohistochemical evaluation of LC numbers. Previous studies have shown these intervals to be optimal for evaluation of LC migration induced by these cytokines in mice (7).

In vitro LC migration

Ears were excised and split into dorsal and ventral halves. The dorsal half only (which does not have cartilage attached) was placed in organ culture as previously described (21). Briefly, dorsal ear halves were floated individually on 2 ml of RPMI/10% FCS with or without caspase-1 inhibitor or control peptide (each at a final concentration of 100 µM) in 16-mm diameter wells of 24-well cluster trays (Costar, Cambridge, MA) and kept at 37°C in a 5% CO2 incubator. At 24 and 48 h, ear halves were removed, and epidermal sheets were prepared and analyzed for the presence of LC as described above.

Statistical analysis

The statistical significance of differences in means of experimental groups was calculated using two-tailed Student’s t test. Mean differences were considered to be significantly different when p < 0.05. All data are presented as the mean ± SEM, and error bars are indicated on figures where the SEM was >5% of the mean.


    Results
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
CHS is suppressed in caspase-1-/- mice

In view of previous data indicating that IL-1 is involved in CHS (16), we first wished to determine whether caspase-1-/- mice could be sensitized normally to epicutaneously applied hapten. Thus, caspase-1-/- and control mice were sensitized epicutaneously on abdominal skin with DNFB and challenged on ear skin 5 days later. Although WT mice responded with a vigorous ear swelling response as expected, significant attenuation of this response was observed in caspase-1-/- animals (Fig. 1Goa). A similar degree of suppression was observed when OX, another potent allergen, was used, indicating that this phenomenon is not Ag specific (Fig. 1Gob).



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FIGURE 1. CHS response in WT and caspase-1-deficient mice. Mice were sensitized with DNFB (a) or OX (b) and challenged 5 days later on one ear as described. Marked ear swelling occurred in WT mice ({square}), but there was significant suppression of this response in caspase-1-deficient animals ({diamond}). *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01. Unsensitized controls ({circ}, WT; {triangleup}, caspase-1 deficient) demonstrated negligible ear swelling. n = 3 mice/group. The results are representative of three independent experiments.

 
Hapten-induced LC migration is impaired in caspase-1-/- mice

To explore possible associations in caspase-1-/- mice between impaired contact sensitization and LC mobilization, experiments were performed in which epidermal LC numbers were determined following exposure of mice to DNFB. This allergen has previously been shown to induce rapid migration of LC from murine epidermis (22). Although LC were present in WT and caspase-1-/- epidermis with a similar morphology (Fig. 2Go, a and c), LC numbers in epidermal sheets from untreated caspase-1-/- mice were significantly lower than those in WT mice (573 ± 37 LC/mm2 in caspase-1-/- mice compared with 670 ± 22 LC/mm2 in WT mice; p < 0.05; n = 6 mice/group). In WT mice, application of DNFB lead to a rapid decline in LC numbers to about 72% of resting levels (Fig. 3Goa), a reduction comparable to that which we routinely observe in BALB/c mice following hapten challenge. In contrast, DNFB treatment failed to provoke significant LC migration in caspase-1-/- mice (Fig. 3Gob). Similar data were obtained using the alternate sensitizer OX (not shown). Interestingly, although LC numbers did not change in caspase-1-/- mice following application of DNFB, their morphology did change in a manner typical of allergen-induced activation, with shortening of dendritic processes and an increase in intensity of MHC class II expression, changes also seen in the WT mice (Fig. 2Go, b and d).



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FIGURE 2. MHC class II +ve LC morphology in epidermal sheet preparations derived from WT and caspase-1-deficient mice. a and b, WT; c and d, caspase-1-/-. a and c, Untreated skin; b and d, epidermal sheets prepared 4 h after challenge with 0.5% DNFB. Steady state levels of LC density were lower in caspase-1-deficient animals (c) than in WT animals (a). DNFB induced increased intensity of MHC class II staining in LC from both WT (b) and caspase-1-deficient mice (d). Original magnification, x100.

 


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FIGURE 3. LC numbers in epidermal sheets prepared following topical application of 0.5% DNFB in AOO or of AOO alone. a, WT mice; b, caspase-1-deficient mice. DNFB resulted in a marked fall in LC density in WT mice, whereas LC numbers did not significantly change in caspase-1-deficient mice. *, p < 0.05 compared with vehicle. n = 3 mice per group. The data shown are representative of three independent experiments.

 
Response of LC to cytokine stimulation in caspase-1-/- mice

Because LC migration in response to hapten is thought to be largely dependent upon the availability of IL-1{alpha} and TNF-{alpha} (5), we next examined the response of LC in WT and caspase-1-/- mice to intradermal injection of these cytokines. In addition, we determined whether in caspase-1-/- mice LC were capable of migration and were not simply fixed in epidermis. In WT mice, both TNF and IL-1{beta} lead to a rapid decrease in LC numbers (Fig. 4Goa), but although caspase-1-/- LC responded normally to IL-1{beta}, they failed to migrate after injection of TNF-{alpha} (Fig. 4Gob). Clearly therefore, given the correct signal, caspase-1-/- LC are capable of migration, but are unable to do this after hapten stimulation alone.



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FIGURE 4. LC numbers in epidermal sheets prepared following intradermal cytokine injection. a, WT mice; b, caspase-1-/- mice. IL-1{beta} and TNF-{alpha} induced a significant fall in epidermal LC numbers in WT mice, and injection of carrier protein alone (BSA) was without effect. In caspase-1-deficient mice only IL-1{beta} caused significant LC migration. *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01 (compared with BSA-injected skin). The data shown are representative of three independent experiments.

 
YVAD, a caspase-1 inhibitor, prevents LC migration in vitro

To determine whether pharmacological caspase-1 inhibition might inhibit LC migration, we assessed the effect of Ac-YVAD-cmk, a cell-permeable irreversible caspase-1 inhibitor (23, 24), on LC migration from epidermis in organ culture. Previous data have indicated that in vitro organ culture of skin results in migration of LC from epidermis into dermis, where they accumulate in cords in lymphatic vessels before passing into the culture medium (25). Thus, dorsal ear skin from WT mice was cultured for up to 48 h, and LC numbers were evaluated in the presence of Ac-YVAD-cmk or a control peptide, Ac-DEVD-cmk, which has little effect on caspase-1 function (24). In skin cultured in medium alone there was a steady decline in epidermal LC numbers over 48 h to 550 ± 35 LC/mm2, compared with 785 ± 8 LC/mm2 in WT skin before organ culture (Fig. 5Goa). However, skin cultured in the presence of 100 µM YVAD showed a significant reduction in this decline (675 ± 24 LC/mm2 at 48 h; p < 0.05), whereas control peptide had no inhibitory effect (553 ± 12 LC/mm2 at 48 h; not significant), indicating that inhibition of caspase-1 impairs LC migration in vitro. Similar data were obtained from BALB/c strain mice (data not shown), indicating that the requirement for caspase-1 in LC migration is not a strain-specific phenomenon. In skin derived from caspase-1-/- mice (Fig. 5GoB), a much slower decline in LC numbers occurred, paralleling the effect seen in WT mice in the presence of caspase-1 inhibitor, and addition of caspase-1 inhibitor was without effect.



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FIGURE 5. LC migration in organ culture in caspase-1-deficient mice. WT (a) or caspase-1-/- (b) ear skin was incubated in organ culture in medium alone ({square}) or in the presence of 100 µM Ac-YVAD-cmk ({diamond}) or Ac-DEVD-cmk ({circ}). At 24 or 48 h ear halves were removed from organ culture, and MHC class II-positive LC were enumerated in epidermal sheet preparations. In WT skin LC numbers decreased over 48 h, and this decrease was inhibitable by YVAD, but not by DEVD. In skin derived from caspase-1-deficient mice only very low level LC migration under organ culture conditions was observed, and caspase inhibitors were without effect. The data shown are representative of three independent experiments. n = 3 ear halves/group. *, p < 0.05.

 
Caspase-1 inhibition prevents LC migration and suppresses CHS in vivo

Having demonstrated that Ac-YVAD-cmk inhibits LC migration in vitro, we next determined whether a similar effect could be achieved in vivo. Ear skin of BALB/c mice (n = 3) was painted with 200 µm of YVAD in DMSO 1 h before application of 0.5% DNFB in AOO. Controls included application of DMSO alone or application of the control peptide DEVD. As expected, DNFB alone lead to a mean 24% decrease in epidermal LC numbers after 4 h (Fig. 6Go). DMSO alone had no effect on this decrease, but pretreatment of skin with YVAD inhibited 67% of the DNFB-induced fall (p < 0.05). Control peptide DEVD was without effect. Similar data were obtained with OX (data not shown), indicating that caspase-1 inhibition is able to block LC migration in a non-Ag-specific way.



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FIGURE 6. Inhibition of DNFB-induced LC migration in vivo by topical application of caspase inhibitors. BALB/c ear skin was pretreated 1 h before application of 0.5% DNFB or vehicle (AOO) with 200 µM caspase inhibitors in DMSO or of DMSO alone. Four hours later ears were harvested, and MHC class II-positive LC were enumerated in epidermal sheet preparations. DNFB induced a marked fall in LC density that was significantly inhibited by Ac-YVAD-cmk pretreatment. Ac-DEVD-cmk and vehicle alone were without effect. *, p < 0.05. ns, not significant. The data are representative of three independent experiments.

 
Finally, we explored whether topical application of YVAD would inhibit the CHS response. Mice treated with YVAD (400 µM) before and just after sensitization exhibited marked suppression of the ear-swelling response to DNFB (Fig. 7Go), suggesting that the migration inhibition demonstrated in Fig. 6Go results in functional inhibition of the CHS response.



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FIGURE 7. Suppression of CHS by topical application of caspase inhibitors. Unshaved BALB/c abdominal skin was treated with the caspase-1 inhibitor YVAD ({square}), control peptide DEVD ({diamond}), or DMSO vehicle ({circ}) as described. Mice were then sensitized in the treated area with 0.5% DNFB and challenged 5 days later with 0.25% DNFB on one ear. YVAD pretreatment resulted in significant suppression of the resulting ear swelling response (*, p < 0.05) at 24, 48, and 72 h, whereas ear swelling in mice treated with DEVD control peptide did not differ from that in vehicle-treated animals. Negligible ear swelling occurred in unsensitized animals ({triangleup}). The data shown are representative of three independent experiments.

 

    Discussion
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 
LC migration is a critical first step in the development of an Ag-specific immune response in skin. Previous data have demonstrated that this process is mediated by a number of cytokines, including IL-1{beta} and TNF-{alpha}, and in this study we have extended these observations to demonstrate that caspase-1 is central to this event.

Initial characterization of caspase-1-deficient mice demonstrated that resting numbers of epidermal LC were significantly decreased in these animals compared with those in wild-type controls. Despite recent interest, the dynamics of LC recruitment to epidermis are unclear, although mechanisms must exist to ensure that LC precursors home to epidermis in correct numbers and at appropriate times (26). Our observations imply that caspase-1 or caspase-1-dependant cytokines are required for optimal LC homing to skin. An alternate explanation is that caspase-1-/- LC circulate constitutively out of epidermis more rapidly in the absence of caspase-1, and a lower steady state number is thereby achieved. However, this is argued against by our finding that in almost all circumstances examined by us, LC are less able to migrate in the absence of caspase-1 than they might normally do.

Our data demonstrate that LC migration in response to an antigenic stimulus is defective in caspase-1 knockout mice. Similarly, TNF-{alpha}, a cytokine that in wild-type mice is known to lead to rapid mobilization of LC, failed to induce migration in mice lacking caspase-1. Importantly, however, migration in response to intradermal injection of IL-1{beta} was normal in caspase-1 knockouts. Collectively, these data indicate that caspase-1 (or caspase-1-dependant cytokines) is required for normal migration of LC and that in caspase-1 knockout mice there is no generalized inability of LC to migrate if appropriate stimuli are available. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that LC migration requires the effective induction of two independent cytokine signals supplied by TNF-{alpha} and IL-1{beta} (5). The implication is that in caspase-1 knockout mice TNF-{alpha} alone is unable to initiate LC mobilization because the absence of caspase-1 results in an inability of epidermal cells to inducibly or constitutively secrete IL-1{beta}. In contrast, exogenous IL-1{beta} is able to stimulate migration because in addition to directly supplying one signal to LC, it is able to induce production, probably by keratinocytes (8), of TNF-{alpha}. Thus, these findings confirm and extend those of Enk et al. (16), who demonstrated that blockade of IL-1{beta} by Ab injection inhibits both LC migration and the CHS response. That TNF-{alpha} also plays a critical role has been demonstrated both by Ab inhibition studies and in mice deficient in its p75 receptor (15, 27).

It is instructive that topical exposure of caspase-1 knockout mice to DNFB induced in epidermal LC an activated phenotype, as indicated by increased expression of MHC class II, despite failing to initiate mobilization. These data reveal that at least some degree of LC activation can be achieved in the absence of caspase-1 or caspase-1-dependant cytokines.

Caspase-1 is present in both LC (28) and keratinocytes (29), although whether it is required in one or both cell types for LC migration to occur requires further investigation. Previous data demonstrating that IL-1{beta} is primarily a product of LC in murine skin and that caspase-1 is involved in IL-1{beta} processing in these cells (28) suggest that it is likely to be of primary importance in LC, although our current data cannot exclude a role for caspase-1 in keratinocytes. Indeed, recent evidence suggests that caspase-1 in keratinocytes may be active in certain states and result in the release of biologically active IL-1{beta} (29).

Caspase-1 plays a role in the activation of at least two structurally related cytokines, IL-1{beta} and IL-18. Our results do not differentiate between the two cytokines, and although a considerable body of evidence suggests that IL-1{beta} plays an important role in LC migration (16), it is not at present clear whether IL-18 is also involved in this process. Our observation that contact sensitivity to both DNFB and OX is suppressed in the caspase-1 knockout mice is of interest in this regard, as two independent groups have reported previously that epicutaneous CHS is normal in IL-1{beta} knockout mice (30, 31). Only when Ag was injected intradermally could suppression of delayed-type hypersensitivity be observed (30). Were IL-1{beta} the only caspase-1-dependant cytokine involved in LC migration we would expect to have seen similar preservation of epicutaneous CHS in our mice. One explanation for this discrepancy may be that in some situations other molecules may compensate for the absence of IL-1{beta}. The suppression of CHS observed by us in caspase-1-/- mice suggests that any non-IL-1{beta} pathway is also caspase-1 dependant and may therefore involve IL-18, the only other cytokine known to be processed by caspase-1. An alternate explanation is that the experimental conditions used by Shornick et al. (30), with a high concentration of eliciting OX, masked a true suppression of CHS. Whatever the reason, further study of this issue is required, and the observation that DTH is impaired in IL-1{beta}-deficient mice is compatible with our current model of the signals involved in LC migration.

In recent years a number of caspase-1 inhibitors have been described. Our study demonstrates that both in vitro and in vivo, Ac-YVAD-cmk, a prototypic caspase-1 inhibitor, is able to efficiently block LC migration. Short-term organ culture largely recapitulates normal LC migration in vitro (4, 21), with accumulation of LC in cords within dermal lymphatic vessels and subsequent exit into the culture medium. This process is likely to result from release of IL-1 and/or TNF from injured keratinocytes, and our finding with skin derived from caspase-1-deficient mice and with caspase-1 inhibitors in BALB/c skin indicates that it is clearly caspase-1 dependant. Moreover, topical application of YVAD in vivo resulted in a marked inhibition of LC migration in response to topical DNFB and effectively inhibited CHS. Clearly, therefore, YVAD is able to penetrate the epidermis and interact with caspase-1 inside viable epithelial cells, and we are currently exploring the possibility of using such compounds as cutaneous immune modulators in vivo.

LC migration from epidermis is a critical first step in the initiation of an Ag-specific immune response in skin. The data presented here indicate that caspase-1 is central in this process and is amenable to control by specific inhibitors in vivo and in vitro. These observations may have important implications for future therapeutic control of Ag-specific skin diseases, including allergic contact dermatitis, atopic eczema, and psoriasis.


    Footnotes
 
1 This work was supported by grants from the Medical Research Council (U.K.), Middlesex Hospital Special Trustees, The Jules Thorn Medical Research Trust, and the Skin Disease Research Fund. Back

2 Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Richard Groves, University College London Center for Dermatology, 7th Floor Jules Thorn Institute, Middlesex Hospital, Mortimer Street, London, W1T 3AA U.K. Back

3 Abbreviations used in this paper: LC, Langerhans cell; DC, dendritic cell; DNFB, 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene; OX, oxazolone; AOO, acetone olive oil; WT, wild type; CHS, contact hypersensitivity. Back

Received for publication July 6, 2000. Accepted for publication January 2, 2001.


    References
 Top
 Abstract
 Introduction
 Materials and Methods
 Results
 Discussion
 References
 

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