Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood
07:35

Generation of Human Monocyte-derived Dendritic Cells from Whole Blood

Published on: December 24, 2016

Antigenic competition in contact sensitivity. Evidence for changes in dendritic cell migration and antigen handling

I Kimber1, S Hill, J A Mitchell

  • 1ICI Central Toxicology Laboratory, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, U.K.

Immunology
|October 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Antigenic competition in contact sensitivity involves changes in dendritic cells (DC). Pre-exposure to one antigen reduces the response to a second, altering DC frequency and antigen presentation in lymph nodes.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Contact sensitivity is an immune response mediated by T cells.
  • Antigenic competition describes the phenomenon where exposure to one antigen can suppress the immune response to a subsequent, different antigen.
  • Dendritic cells (DC) are crucial antigen-presenting cells that initiate adaptive immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role and characteristics of dendritic cells (DC) in the context of antigenic competition within the draining lymph nodes during contact sensitivity.
  • To determine how prior exposure to one sensitizing agent affects the DC response to a subsequent antigen.

Main Methods:

  • Mice were sensitized with oxazolone, followed by challenge with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC).
  • Draining lymph nodes were analyzed for the frequency and antigen-bearing characteristics of dendritic cells (DC).
  • Flow cytometry was used to quantify antigen presentation on DC.

Main Results:

  • Pre-exposure to oxazolone significantly depressed subsequent FITC-induced lymph node cell (LNC) proliferation.
  • Antigenic competition was associated with an increased frequency of DC in draining lymph nodes.
  • However, the percentage of antigen-bearing DC and the median amount of antigen per DC were reduced.

Conclusions:

  • Induced changes in dendritic cell (DC) behavior, including altered migration and antigen presentation, are associated with the reduced immune response observed during antigenic competition in contact sensitivity.
  • Systemic effects on DC migration following initial antigen exposure may contribute to the observed changes in DC characteristics during competition.

More Related Videos

Tailoring In Vivo Cytotoxicity Assays to Study Immunodominance in Tumor-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses10:13

Tailoring In Vivo Cytotoxicity Assays to Study Immunodominance in Tumor-specific CD8+ T Cell Responses

Published on: May 6, 2019

Chemical Conjugation of a Purified DEC-205-Directed Antibody with Full-Length Protein for Targeting Mouse Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo10:35

Chemical Conjugation of a Purified DEC-205-Directed Antibody with Full-Length Protein for Targeting Mouse Dendritic Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 5, 2021

Related Concept Videos

Cell-mediated Immune Responses01:40

Cell-mediated Immune Responses

Overview
Cross-reactivity00:42

Cross-reactivity

Overview
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
Diversity of Antigen Receptors01:28

Diversity of Antigen Receptors

Antigen receptors are essential components of the immune system crucial in defending the body against foreign invaders. These receptors are present on the surface of B and T cells, enabling them to recognize antigens and mount an appropriate immune response.
Before encountering any antigen, lymphocytes express these receptors. On B cells, the antigen receptor is a membrane-bound antibody molecule called BCR; on T cells, it is a T cell receptor or TCR. B and T cell receptors are composed of two...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection01:22

T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection

T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
B Cell Activation and Differentiation01:24

B Cell Activation and Differentiation

The adaptive immune response, a sophisticated defense mechanism, relies on the activation and differentiation of B lymphocytes, or B cells. These processes enable our bodies to mount a tailored response against specific pathogens such as bacteria, free virus particles, toxins, and parasites.
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...