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Allergic Contact Dermatitis pp 4–18Cite as

Immunological Aspects

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Abstract

Allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is an example of an undesirable consequence of our immune system. The adaptive immune system has evolved mainly as a host defense against infection and against malignant cells, but in the case of ACD it also reacts to environmental chemicals. The contact allergic reaction has two main phases: sensitization and elicitation [1–3]. During the sensitization phase the individual acquires a specific immunological memory at the T-cell level to the contact sensitizer. Upon renewed contact with the sensitizing substance, irrespective of where on the skin costume this contact takes place, this often lifelong memory will mount an immune response, resulting in eczema. The immune response is a delayed-type hypersensitivity or type-IV hypersensitivity reaction as classified by Coombs and Gell [4], since it takes more than 12 h to become evident visually and peaks at about 24–72 h. The molecular mechanisms that decide whether an individual will become sensitized or not are still largely unknown.

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Authors
  1. Annika Scheynius
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clinique Dermatologique, Laboratoire de Dermatochimie associé au CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, 1, Place de l’Hôpital, F-67091, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Jean-Pierre Lepoittevin D.Sc.

  2. Unilever Environmental Safety Laboratory, Colworth House, MK44 1LQ, Sharbrook, Bedford, UK

    David A. Basketter

  3. Department of Dermatology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, University Hospital, B-3000, Leuven, Belgium

    An Goossens Ph.D.

  4. Department of Occupational Dermatology, National Institute for Working Life, S-171 84, Solna, Sweden

    Ann-Therése Karlberg Ph.D.

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Scheynius, A. (1998). Immunological Aspects. In: Lepoittevin, JP., Basketter, D.A., Goossens, A., Karlberg, AT. (eds) Allergic Contact Dermatitis. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80331-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-80331-4_2

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